"It was "shocking to see the toddler's condition,” a police source reportedly said. "The boy suffered severe neglect, and although we have seen almost everything, it was difficult to see his condition. We were shocked when we saw him and realized that he had apparently been wandering in the streets alone and sleeping in a cardboard box for the past several days."
Above and above right: The box where the boy was found
4-Year-Old Found Alone, Neglected, Dirty, Malnourished And Sleeping On The Street In A Cardboard Box – In The Haredi City Of Elad
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel Police found a severely neglected 4-year-old toddler wandering alone in the haredi city of Elad yesterday and arrested the child’s father, Ynet reported.
Police in nearby Rosh Ha’ayin received a report of a toddler wandering alone in Elad.
They searched the city but could not initially find the boy. But eventually they found the child when, near a commercial area of the city, they saw a cardboard box suddenly move and were shocked to find the toddler hiding inside.
Police believe the boy wandered the streets of the haredi city alone for the past several days and slept in that cardboard box.
It was "shocking to see the toddler's condition,” a police source reportedly said. "The boy suffered severe neglect, and although we have seen almost everything, it was difficult to see his condition. We were shocked when we saw him and realized that he had apparently been wandering in the streets alone and sleeping in a cardboard box for the past several days."
The child was taken to a police station where he was found to be severely neglected, malnourished, dirty and wearing a diaper that had not been changed in several days.
Police were initially unable to communicate with the child because he was unable to speak fluently.
After hours of trying, police were finally able to understand the names of his family members. They found the boy’s father and questioned him on suspicion of child neglect.
Social services were contacted to check to see if other children were in the family’s home and, if so, if they are in immediate danger.
The father was still being questioned by police. A decision on whether or not to criminally charge him has not yet been made.