Mother faces charges for allegedly leaving toddler, infant home alone

A young Triangle mother is facing charges of felony child abuse after she allegedly left her toddler son and infant daughter alone at home this week while she ran errands.

Prince William County police were called to the 18500 block of Quantico Gateway Drive at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after a neighborhood resident spotted a 2-year-old boy toddling near the road. The neighbor moved the boy to his family's front porch and called police after she couldn't reach anyone inside.

Officers searched the house and found the boy's 1-year-old sister in a playpen in an upstairs bedroom.

Brittany M. Tyler, 22, returned to the house while officers were investigating, said Officer Erika Hernandez, a Prince William police spokeswoman. Tyler was arrested and charged with two counts of felony child abuse. She was released on a $3,000 bond and was at home Friday, awaiting a hearing in the county's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Reached by telephone Friday afternoon, Tyler and her mother declined to comment. Timothy Ward, a court-appointed attorney for Tyler, also declined to comment.

Police said Tyler told them that she left the house briefly for an appointment Wednesday. Police were unsure how long the children were left alone, but it appeared to be a short period.

"She said the children were sleeping when she left, and the 2-year-old obviously woke up and walked out of the house," Hernandez said. "It doesn't matter how long she was gone. You always have to make proper arrangements to take care of your children."

Police contacted the county's social services office and placed the children with Tyler's relatives while she was taken into custody.