MacKenzie Elmer

melmer@dmreg.com

The mother of a 2-year-old boy left alone in a yard sucking on a frozen chicken breast was arrested for child endangerment Monday.

Hallie Elizabeth Amick, 30, was charged with child endangerment causing physical injury and drug possession.

A Des Moines officer stopped Amick's boyfriend for speeding Monday morning on Highway 5. The man told police he was rushing home because a child had been left alone.

Another officer was sent to check on the house in the 100 block of East Emma Avenue where the child was found alone in the backyard with a full diaper, sucking on a frozen chicken breast, according to a police report.

A small terrier was jumping at the boy, trying to get at the chicken, the report said. A neighbor said she'd previously seen the dog bite the boy and the boy hit the dog with sticks.

"His diaper was almost down to his knees," said Deborah Snyder, 57, who can see into the yard from her apartment window.

Snyder told police Monday that Amick often leaves the child alone at home.

"This is the first time he got out of the house, but ever since they moved in they (left) him alone," Snyder said. She said Amick moved into the home around the beginning of the year.

Another neighbor told police she once found the child alone in the middle of the street.

Amick returned home Monday almost two hours after police were called. She claimed it was the first time she'd left her child unattended. But once confronted with the statements of her neighbors, Amick admitted the she left the child alone on "occasion."

Police searched the home and found a marijuana pipe, "blunts" and marijuana stems.

The Iowa Department of Human Services was called to the scene. Doty said he could not comment any further on the custody of the 2-year-old boy.

Amick was released from jail after her first court hearing. She did not respond to a request for comment from jail.

The boyfriend may face charges as well, said Des Moines police Sgt. Ryan Doty.

La Baccam has lived next door to the East Emma Avenue home for 30 years. She said she heard the baby crying for a long time outside a few days ago, but she thought the mother was home.

"I don't know how in the world this mother can leave a baby like that," Baccam said. "If I knew that had happened, I'd ask police if I could keep the baby for myself, because I feel so sad for that baby."