Cops: Roswell mom locked out kids in cold, rain
A Roswell woman was arrested and charged after she allegedly locked out her two young children in their pajamas in the rain, Channel 2 Action News reports.
Neighbors called police about 11 p.m. Saturday to report hearing children screaming. The youngsters, ages 9 and 11, had been shut out of their family’s unit in the Belcourt Apartments off Belcourt Parkway, police said.
"They were only wearing pajamas and no shoes, and it was cold and raining outside," Officer Lisa Holland, Roswell police spokeswoman, told Channel 2. “We found out from the kids, the mother locked them out and told [them] they were bad [and] wouldn't let them back into the apartment.”
Police were not sure how long the children were outside.
Neighbors were aghast when they heard what allegedly happened.
“It’s pretty shocking,” Gorgina Moreno told Channel 2. “I'm a mom, and the kids are everything for my life.”
Holland said, "In this day and age, anyone could have grabbed them. They weren't dressed for outside weather, and they are young. You can't leave kids outside like that.”
The mother, Ruth Parada, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct, police said. She was released to await trial, and the children were returned to her.
No one answered the door at the family's apartment when Channel 2 knocked.
