Update: Article was updated on March 6 at 10:10 p.m.
Despite the raindrops steadily pelting them in the face, deputies and firefighters refused to take their eyes off a little girl pushing on a second-story window screen from the inside of an apartment Wednesday.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., a resident called the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station regarding the small child, saying she was suspected to be home alone and was crying and leaning on a window screen from inside an upper-level apartment, said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station.
Los Angeles County Fire Department officials received the call at 1:53 p.m., and were asked for a public assist by Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies, according to Fire Department spokeswoman Vanessa Lozana.
“Sheriff’s on the scene required assistance to make entry through a door or window,” Lozano said.
Witnesses on the scene, in the 27000 block of Isabella Parkway in Canyon Country, reported that as more and more emergency personnel arrived, Deputy Ben Sanchez with the sheriff’s station remained fixed on the toddler, who at that point was pushing directly on the window screen of the second-story apartment window.
Deputies were preparing to catch the young girl if the screen gave out, while others yelled up to her repeatedly to “go sit on your bed” or “step back from window,” to which the young girl was unresponsive, according to witnesses.
However, at approximately 2:10 p.m., responding personnel were able to force entry and secure the child in the window.
Firefighters had to force entry into the apartment as no adult or guardian was present inside, according to sheriff’s Lt. Ignacio Somoano. The child was wrapped in a deputy’s jacket and carried to an ambulance by a firefighter.
“The patient was transported (to a local area hospital) by ambulance,” said Austin Bennett, a Fire Department spokesman. “The incident closed at 2:37 p.m.”
After conducting an investigation, law enforcement personnel were able to locate and arrest both the child’s mother, Lucia Romero, 28, and the father, Gerren Mitchell, 28, on felonious charges, according to Miller.
“They’ve both been arrested for child endangerment,” said Miller at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday. “Bail was set for both of them at $100,000.”
Their child has been handed to the Department of Child and Family Safety, said Somoano.
