11-06-2010, 11:11 AM
this welfare ho is lucky children weren't killed.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 10-year-old boy was severely burned during a fire at the Cedar Springs Village Apartments on the Westside. Authorities have arrested the mother of the boy and three younger children who they said were alone at the time.
Chantrel James was booked into the Duval County Jail on child neglect charges. She has since bonded out on her own recognizance.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Chantrel James
Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department was dispatched to the one-alarm fire at 2039 Niblick Ave., just off San Juan Avenue, just before 8 p.m. Thursday. JFRD spokesman Tom Francis said the fire in the ground-floor unit was out in three minutes, but the victim, Antonio Daniels, was found with severe burns.
"A lady came running with a little boy. They were running together, and his arm was burnt from about his elbow to his shoulder and part of his stomach was burned," neighbor Amber Cottriel said. "It looked like he'll be scarred for life, yes, but there were no burns on his face, from what I could see."
The boy was taken first to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, then transferred to the burn unit at Shands in Gainesville, where he was listed in good condition Friday afternoon.
Francis said that because there was a question of whether any adults were home at the time, police and the Florida Division of Children and Families were notified.
DCF's John Harrell told Channel 4's Vic Micolucci that the 10-year-old was watching three children under the age of 5 -- one an infant. Harrell said their investigation into the incident could take weeks.
DCF investigators said they're trying to figure out where the children's mother was and if she's fit to take care of her children.
"How long were those children supervised for?" Harrell said. "It's one thing to have a 10-year-old with an 8- and 9-year-old, but when you're talking about small children, say under the age of 5, and you're talking several children under the age of 5, really, those children should not be left alone with an older child."
The children's cousin said the mother had just gone to get the mail and had only left for a few minutes when the fire started. He said James should not have been arrested.later proved to be a damn lie of course
Firefighters said the fire started in the living room. They said it appears the child set something in the living room on fire. Firefighters are investigating whether matches or a lighter were involved.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 10-year-old boy was severely burned during a fire at the Cedar Springs Village Apartments on the Westside. Authorities have arrested the mother of the boy and three younger children who they said were alone at the time.
Chantrel James was booked into the Duval County Jail on child neglect charges. She has since bonded out on her own recognizance.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Chantrel James
Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department was dispatched to the one-alarm fire at 2039 Niblick Ave., just off San Juan Avenue, just before 8 p.m. Thursday. JFRD spokesman Tom Francis said the fire in the ground-floor unit was out in three minutes, but the victim, Antonio Daniels, was found with severe burns.
"A lady came running with a little boy. They were running together, and his arm was burnt from about his elbow to his shoulder and part of his stomach was burned," neighbor Amber Cottriel said. "It looked like he'll be scarred for life, yes, but there were no burns on his face, from what I could see."
The boy was taken first to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, then transferred to the burn unit at Shands in Gainesville, where he was listed in good condition Friday afternoon.
Francis said that because there was a question of whether any adults were home at the time, police and the Florida Division of Children and Families were notified.
DCF's John Harrell told Channel 4's Vic Micolucci that the 10-year-old was watching three children under the age of 5 -- one an infant. Harrell said their investigation into the incident could take weeks.
DCF investigators said they're trying to figure out where the children's mother was and if she's fit to take care of her children.
"How long were those children supervised for?" Harrell said. "It's one thing to have a 10-year-old with an 8- and 9-year-old, but when you're talking about small children, say under the age of 5, and you're talking several children under the age of 5, really, those children should not be left alone with an older child."
The children's cousin said the mother had just gone to get the mail and had only left for a few minutes when the fire started. He said James should not have been arrested.later proved to be a damn lie of course
Firefighters said the fire started in the living room. They said it appears the child set something in the living room on fire. Firefighters are investigating whether matches or a lighter were involved.