Sheriff: Dad arrested after boy, 2, found wandering street
ROSEBURG, Ore. -- A Roseburg man was arrested on Monday and charged by the Sheriff's office with child neglect, after his 2-year-old was found wandering on a street.
According to the Sheriff's office, a Durham Transportation bus driver spotted the boy walking in the 200 block of Ash Court just after noon.
The bus driver called Douglas County Dispatch and reported that the boy was wearing only pajamas and appeared to be very dirty.
Sheriff's deputies contacted the boy's father, Elijah William Mackey, 27, at his residence, and say he was sleeping. Officials say he was unaware that the boy was wondering around outside.
Mackey was arrested and charged with first degree child neglect, and lodged in the Douglas County Jail. The boy was taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Services.
Mackey remains in jail on the neglect charge, as well as a warrant for contempt of court.
His bail is set at $100,570.
First degree child neglect is a Class B Felony in the State of Oregon.
It is just as cowardly to judge an absent person as it is wicked to strike a defenseless one. Only the ignorant and narrow minded gossip.--- Lawrence Lovasik
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You seem to know quite a lot about this family; how many reports have you made to child protective services out of concern for the child? How are you so intimately aware of their (alleged) particular drug use unless you also use drugs and have been close enough to the situation to be able to make these allegations? I don't know who you are but you clearly lack compassion; I hope you never find yourself in a situation where you've made a mistake in your life and need some kindness to make it right. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries, without them, humanity cannot survive. You may believe yourself to be "Happy in Love" but how can you be either when you are so hateful toward others? Finally, you should step right up and identify yourself, I believe the accused has the right to face their accuser; but in either case, I'm certain they have been called worse by better. @Happy in LoveÂ
This was an accident. How many of us (single parents especially) have had our young children awake when we were sleeping? Probably all of us. Sometimes parents take naps at the same time as a child. Did the kid wake i\up first? Is the dad a heavy sleeper? WE do not know the circumstances. In hindsight there were precautions that should have been taken, like a locked door or a childproof door knob, but hindsight is 20/20 and I am sure that if he could do over it would be different. I know he loves his son, enjoys being a father and strives to be the best parent he can be.Â
 @Duct Tape Man Yes and Amen; blessings to you for not harshly judging them when you don't know the whole story. It is people like you who recognize that we all make mistakes and compassion such as yours goes a long ways toward making things better for everyone.
 @Duct Tape Man If your 27 years old with a two year and you have not realized by now how much trouble they can get into if your not watching them;then you deserve to be jailed. If that is the best parent he can be then he has no business raising children.
I wouldn't punish him. We all fall asleep at some point in our childs younger years, and things like this just happen. I feel sorry for him, he shouldnt get neglect charges for something that has happened once and accedents do happen. Maybe a warning and he would be aware that all doors should be double locked just in case you do fall asleep.
And thank YOU for not being wrongfully judgemental without knowing the whole story. Not a one of us is perfect and if we all pull together in the spirit of help, and compassion, rather than blame, this world will be a better place for all of us. @breezycat21@yahoo.comÂ
I see meth claims another victim...
 @Ritual99 Meth is an ugly drug but there isn't even the mention of meth in this story so you are jumping to conclusions and wrongfully placing blame where none is due.