MARYSVILLE — Her limited English skills may have kept a Cambodian immigrant from calling 911 right away to report the disappearance of her 4-year-old son yesterday.
Detectives continue to investigate why the boy was found alone and why his mother didn’t call for help sooner, Marysville police Cmdr. Ralph Krusey said.
Through an interpreter, the woman told police she had been searching for her son since 5 p.m. Thursday.
Finally she had her boyfriend call police about 10:45 p.m. to report the boy’s disappearance, Marysville police spokesman Robert Dolhanyk said.
“A language barrier may have prevented her from calling 911 sooner,” he said.
The boy had been found walking down the sidewalk about 6:20 p.m. Officers searched the neighborhood but were unable to locate his parents. The boy was unable to tell police his name or his parents’ name. He was placed in foster care by Child Protective Services about 9:20 p.m.
The child remained in custody of Child Protective Services while Marysville detectives investigated the incident. Krusey on Friday didn’t know if the boy had been returned to his mother.
Krusey said even if someone can’t communicate well with emergency dispatchers, a police officer likely will be sent out to investigate the call.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to Marysville police detective Chuck Smith at 360-363-8326.
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