When Deputies arrived they called for aide to evaluate the child’s condition as he was very cold and wet.  The Child was transported to Central Washington Hospital where doctors evaluated him and determined other than being cold and hungry he was in good health.   The child was released to the Child Protective Service.

Deputies and Detectives began a search of the Malaga area in attempts to locate the parents of the child. At 3:45 a Juan C. Rodriguez, 24 year old arrived at the CPS office looking for his child.  It was determined the 3 year old male was his child. 

Detectives interviewed Rodriguez and he admitted that on January 8, at 1145 he left his home, 2400 Block of West Malaga Road, to go to work, leaving his child home alone.  He was to work from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  After arriving at work he extended his schedule to 11:00 PM.  He left work at 11:00 PM to return home when he was stopped and arrested for driving with a suspended license.  He was taken to Jail where he was bailed out by his boss; they decided to go to dinner. After dinner Rodriguez stayed the night at his bosses’ home.  At 12:00 PM on the 9th, Rodriguez arrived back at his home to find his child missing.   Rodriguez stated he tried to find someone to watch his child but no one was available, he did not feel it was a problem leaving his 3 year old son home alone.   He was asked several times why he did not tell someone through the 26 hour span that he son was home alone, he had no answer.

Rodriguez was arrested and booked into jail on charges of Abandonment of a Dependant Person in the 2nd Degree.