Charges reduced for woman who police said left her child at bus stop

By Fran Jeffries

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Charges were reduced Tuesday against an Atlanta woman arrested Saturday after police said she abandoned her 3-year-old daughter at a bus stop on Bouldercrest Drive.

Channel 2 Action News, WSB Rochelle Payton charged with leaving her dauther, 3, at a bus stop on Bouldercrest Road in DeKalb.

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Rochelle Payton, 41, was facing a cruelty to children charge after a witness said she left the child at the stop and ran away, Channel 2 Action News reported.  Police said Payton returned to the scene but fled again when she was approached by an officer. The officer later found her at her home.  No reason was given for why she fled or left the child behind.

The child, who was unharmed, was released to the state Division of Family and Children Services.

A DeKalb County judge reduced the charge to reckless conduct. He set Payton's bond at $500, according to Channel 2.