BRUNSWICK
The father of a toddler found wandering near a local homeless shelter Saturday morning was charged with child endangerment.

Police received a report of a young child walking around unattended outside the Tedford Housing Family Shelter on Federal Street at 4:50 a.m. Saturday, Brunswick Deputy Police Chief Marc Hagan said.

The woman who found the 3-year-old boy went to find his father in one of the apartments where she knew the two were staying, but couldn’t find him, Hagan said. Police then called several phone numbers and still couldn’t locate the father, Mark A. Washburn, 25, with a last known address of Bath.

Hagan said police found Washburn in another apartment at the shelter. Hagan said Washburn told police he must have fallen asleep at the friend’s apartment at around midnight. Police  allegedly smelled alcohol on Washburn’s breath and since he was not to consume alcohol as a condition of bail, he was taken to the police station for a breath test.

Washburn was arrested, charged with endangering the welfare of a child and violation of condition of release. Bail was set at $1,000 unsecured and Washburn was released.

Hagan said a relative came to get the little boy and, as a condition of Washburn’s bail, the child is to remain in the custody of the relative.

Police will contact the Maine Department and Health and Human Services to look into the matter further.

Washburn has a West Bath District Court date of Aug. 20.

The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu