Overview
- Arnett Johnson, who sleeps on a bench in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood, found a 6-year-old wandering alone Wednesday night and called police.
- Johnson stayed with the child until officers arrived, and the boy was later placed in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
- Police said the child had delayed speech, which slowed efforts to learn his name or family details during the overnight hours.
- The next day, a school officer recognized the child from a “need to identify” flyer, which led detectives to his mother, Annie Rivera.
- Miami police arrested Rivera on a child-neglect charge after authorities said the boy had been missing for more than 12 hours, and officers publicly praised Johnson’s role.