Toddler seen wandering alone on railroad overpass, CA cops say. Parents arrested

A 2 1/2-year-old girl was spotted walking alone and barefoot over a railroad overpass, and her parents now are accused of child abuse, California officials said.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and Needles Police Department responded to reports of a child wandering alone in Needles at about 6 a.m. Aug. 10, according to a news release by deputies.

The girl’s parents arrived, and authorities said they “displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant.”

Additional evidence was found after a search warrant was performed at their home, authorities said.

The 48-year-old father and 30-year-old mother were arrested on charges of child abuse and violation of post release community supervision and were booked into the Colorado River Station jail, officials said.

McClatchy News is not naming the parents to protect the identity of the child.

Anyone with information is asked to call 760-326-9200, officials said.

Needles is about a 250-mile drive northeast from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM with the headline "Toddler seen wandering alone on railroad overpass, CA cops say. Parents arrested."