The 19-year-old mother of a toddler abandoned along with a dog inside a car during an attempted auto theft in the Highland Park area has been arrested, officials said Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services published the child's photograph and implored the public for help finding his family after the boy was found around 9:55 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of North Avenue 52 after a car owner reported a man tried to steal his vehicle before fleeing on foot.
The owner then found a child and a dog inside his vehicle, according to the LAPD.
Detectives searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
Bianca Slaughter was arrested tale Tuesday and booked early Wednesday on suspicion of unspecified felony charges, police said. Slaughter was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping an adult in an unrelated case, according to Fox11. Multiple media reports said she could also face charges for child abandonment.
She was held on $100,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.
Police also said Wednesday that the 18-month-old boy has been identified, as were his "biological parents," but his name was not released.
"The child will remain in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services until he can be placed in a safe environment," the LAPD said.
"The dog found during the incident remains in the care of Los Angeles County Animal Services, with no license tag or microchip. Detectives are following leads to identify the owner. Anyone with information about the dog's owner is requested to contact the listed tip lines so the dog may be returned home," the department added.
Police earlier said the dog had appeared familiar with the child.
The suspect who fled from the scene Sunday is not the child's father, according to Fox11, which reported that the suspect allegedly used baby wipes to remove his fingerprints from inside the car.
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Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the LAPD Northeast Division watch commander at 323-561-3211, Detective II Ryan Lamar at 39284@lapd.online, or the DCFS Hotline at 1-800-540-4000.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Those wishing to remain anonymous may call LARegional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or contact www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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