LAKE CITY, Fla. Two Lake City residents were arrested Wednesday after Columbia County deputies found a young child wandering alone in a neighborhood and discovered suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside the child’s home, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded at approximately 9:27 a.m. on July 8 to the 500 block of Northwest Yates Loop after a neighbor reported finding a young child walking alone on the roadway without a parent or guardian. The resident told deputies they brought the child to their home for safety before calling 911.
While canvassing the neighborhood, deputies identified the child’s residence at 582 NW Yates Loop. According to the sheriff’s office, no one answered the door despite a neighbor reporting the occupants had been home the previous night. Deputies also found the front door unlocked and the back door partially open.
Believing there were exigent circumstances involving the welfare of potential occupants, deputies entered the residence to conduct a safety check. Inside, they found two adults asleep.
During a protective sweep of the home, deputies observed a used hypodermic needle on the edge of a bathtub and a box containing additional needles on a bathroom counter.
Investigators said the adults told deputies they had overslept and did not know the child had left the residence.
One of the adults initially identified himself as Jordan Williams with a date of birth of March 30, 1993. Deputies later determined his true identity was Brandon Emory Williams, 42, who investigators said provided a false name because he had an active petit theft warrant out of Alachua County.
The second adult was identified as Ashton Seaira Marie Young, 29, the child’s mother. Deputies determined Young was on active probation out of Jefferson County for burglary of a residence.
Authorities said a liquid substance recovered from the hypodermic needle tested positive for methamphetamine.
The Florida Department of Children and Families responded and took custody of the child.
Williams was charged with child neglect, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing a false name to law enforcement and the outstanding Alachua County warrant.
Young was charged with child neglect, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.
Both were transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 386-719-2005 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at 386-754-7099.