Gwinnett police have arrested the father of a little girl found wandering alone Wednesday afternoon inside a Tucker apartment complex.

James Brooks, who lives at the Carrington Chase apartments on South Norcross Road, was charged with 2nd degree cruelty to children, police spokesman Jake Smith said. The little girl, believed to be between 18 and 24 months, was found by a resident of the complex around 2:15 p.m.

Three hours later, police located the father, who had not reported the girl missing.

"[Officers] were canvassing the apartment and knocked on his door," Smith said. Brooks was supposed to be watching his daughter while his wife, the girl's mother, was at work.

Police did not release details on how the little girl got outside the apartment.

About the Author

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo