Raleigh dad arrested after toddler crosses four lanes of traffic
Raleigh police charged a father with misdemeanor child abuse Wednesday after his 3-year-old daughter left home and walked across four lanes of traffic on Lynn Road.
Posted — UpdatedThe girl was not injured.
Aaron Harris Rush, 27, of 920 Hearthridge Court, told police that he was home asleep because he "stayed up until 6 a.m. for no reason," according to court documents. His bond was set at $1,000.
Police said the little girl, Katelynn, crossed Lynn Road and then walked several blocks down North Hills Drive before someone noticed her and called police.
"Usually, she’ll get up and get her toys and play, but they said she had walked out of the house and walked down the street," Rush told WRAL News after his arrest. "(Katelynn) said she was going to her mom's house."
Rush says he has a heart condition, which makes his sleep patterns erratic. He called the experience one of the most frightening of his life.
"On a scale of 1 to 10, probably 100 on scary. It was a frightening moment. I’m lucky that she didn’t get hurt. It was amazing," he said. "Don’t judge a book by the cover, because kids are growing up fast nowadays. They learn and they learn quick. They watch everything."
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