Mother arrested after 6-year-old boy found wandering Miami streets Wednesday night, police say

Miami Police tell CBS News Miami that a mother is facing criminal charges after her 6-year-old son was found wandering on the streets of the city late Wednesday night.

Police spokesman, Officer Mike Vega, says after appealing for the public's help identifying the child, they received a call from his school and were able to determine who he is and where his mother, identified as 30-year-old Annie Rivera, lived. 

Rivera is being charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, according to her arrest form. 

Her arrest report also says that police found past allegations of inadequate supervision from 2025.

Vega says it turns out that she lives near the location where her son was found at around 11 p.m. in Allapattah, at NW 7th Ave. and NW 17th St., near the Camillus House.

CBS News Miami spoke to a woman who had been living with Rivera and her son. Stephanie, who did not want to use her last name, said she believes Rivera is a hardworking mother who was doing what she could for her child. 

"I feel bad because, like, that's his mom, and he doesn't know what is going on, so I feel really bad. I feel bad for her, I feel bad for the son, and I just hope everything works out," Stephanie said.  

Vega says a Good Samaritan who had been sleeping woke up, saw the child, and went to a nearby business to call police.

That Good Samaritan was identified as Arnett Johnson. He spoke to CBS News Miami and said he was just at the right place at the right time. 

"Somebody has to love that kid. He was just standing there looking, and I happened to walk by and do the right thing and call the police," Johnson said. 

According to Miami Police, Rivera never reported that her child was missing from Wednesday night to Thursday morning 

Vega noted that the mother never reported the child as missing. "We sat on her home for a while until she was able to open the door, and we were able to speak with her. From last night around 11 a.m. until 10 a.m. when we found her, the child was not reported as missing," Vega said.

Regarding the charges, Vega stated, "She is going to face charges, and she is going to jail. I am sure one of the charges will be child neglect because you have a 6-year-old child with learning disabilities who should not have been out there on the street".

When asked how the incident might have happened, Vega responded, "That is part of the investigation. We are trying to figure that out right now and why she didn't call police and what she was doing before then".

Vega initially offered praise, telling CBS News Miami, "Kudos to the Good Samaritan". 

He emphasized the potential severity of the situation, saying there could have been serious consequences. 

"There are cars traveling out there, and he could have been hit or even picked up by a predator. But the child is good, and this turned out well," he said.

 The child is currently in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) pending a hearing on this case.