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Written by: E. George
Published July 11, 2024 @ 8:30 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against/neglect of children.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities arrested a mother for deserting her three-year-old son on a Stone Mountain park bench as a form of punishment. Good Samaritans driving on North DeShong Road near South Rockbridge Road explained they saw a small child running into the busy roadway at 10:30 PM on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
The witnesses immediately knew something was wrong when they observed the boy in the street with no evidence of parents or adults anywhere. The man stated, “I saw something running… That looks like a kid!”
He said, “He was running to the car and said, ‘Can I get in, please? Can I get in?’ And we let him in. We asked where his mother was; he didn’t know.”
A Gwinnett County Police Department spokesperson said the child’s mother and her boyfriend were at DeShong Park, and they had committed an extremely dangerous act.
Sergeant Collin Flynn stated, “She had left her child on a park bench in the park in order to punish the child for misbehavior. The child got up, ran away as soon as the mother drove off, and ended up running into the roadway.
The child could’ve run into the roadway and been hit by a car, or if there was someone out there who could’ve taken the child.”
Police arrested the mother, Gabrielle Buckley, and issued an arrest warrant for Lawrence Dozier-Joubert. They face reckless conduct charges, with additional charges likely.
Sergeant Flynn stated, “At three years old, you don’t punish them like that. Somebody needs to talk to her.”
This case is pending.