Jasper man leaves toddler out during Hurricane Irma

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, September 14, 2017

JASPER, Fla. — A Jasper man faces child cruelty charges after leaving his toddler outside during Hurricane Irma, according to the Jasper Police Department.

According to a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office charge report, communications received a report of a missing child Sunday night.

According to the report, the caller said Angelo Montonio Mitchell, 36 left a residence with his toddler Sunday around 11 p.m. and had not returned. The caller added that Mitchell returned almost two hours later without the child and said he did not take the child with him.

The report states that officers searched the area for the child with assistance of a K9 team but were unable to locate her.

Sheriff Harrell Reid said the girl was located in an abandoned backyard near the residence late Monday morning alive.

According to Jasper Police Department, the toddler was transported to Shands of Gainesville and is now back home and doing well.

The suspect was taken to the Hamilton County Jail for questioning and could not advise where the child was and admitted to consuming several alcoholic beverages while caring for the child, the report states.

Mitchell was charged with cruelty towards a child without great bodily harm.