Dad with DWI charged after 1-year-old left alone; Mom lived elsewhere (Statesville, North Carolina)

Dad with DWI charged after 1-year-old left alone; Mom lived elsewhere (Statesville, North Carolina)

Man charged after 1-year-old is left alone

By Donna Swicegood Statesville R&L

Published: June 17, 2009

A Statesville man is facing a charge of child abuse after authorities said he left his 1-year-old son at home alone.

Bradley Luther Johnson was arrested on the misdemeanor charge.

Sgt. Brian Nichols of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office learned Johnson was arrested by the Statesville Police Department on a driving while impaired charge, and were told the 1-year-old might be at home by himself.

After learning of the incident, Nichols went to Johnson's Jennings Road home around 4:10 a.m. Wednesday and was unable to get anyone to come to the door.

Sgt. Doyle Summers and Deputy Eric Estes got keys to the residence, and entered the house, to find the boy asleep in his bedroom.

The child's mother, who does not live at the house, arrived, deputies said.

She told deputies she'd been by the house around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday to pick up the boy, but Johnson told her the child was asleep and she could pick him up in the morning.

Deputies said shortly after the mother left Tuesday night, Johnson left and was subsequently arrested by the SPD.

The Iredell County Department of Social Services is investigating.

The child was returned to his mother and was unharmed.