Boy Clings to Power Lines on Roof While Mom Runs Errands; Woman Faces Child Neglect Charges

A woman from Pennsylvania is facing charges after her son was allegedly found on the rooftop of the house while she was away running errands, according to the police. The woman is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

A Pennsylvania woman, identified as Amanda Rivera from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, was arrested on March 15 and charged on March 16 with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents reported by People.

Rivera is currently awaiting preliminary hearing, scheduled for April 15, before Magisterial District Judge Robert Steele Bell Sr. in Indiana County Court.

A neighbor allegedly told police that they saw the child, a young boy, climb out of a window and onto the tall roof during what police called “extremely high winds”, putting him in danger of falling from 20-foot-high roof, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

The neighbor reportedly called 911, and the child was not hurt.

By the time police arrived at the Rivera residence, the boy who had been seen on the roof was back inside. The police did not release the boy's identity.

“The neighbor advised she took a video of 7 or 8 minutes on the roof,” police mentioned in their paperwork, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

“The witness stated that the young boy was trying to hang from the power lines attached to the house.”

Rivera told police that the family was packing and preparing to move out, and that she was “running errands” and spending time at the new house.

Rivera has two children, one is 15, and the other is 8, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

“I feel for the mother,” Anna Zadecky, a Blairsville resident, told the outlet. “I am sure she was trying her best to move and do everything she needed to do. However, when you have children, you’re responsible. However, accidents happen, but that’s completely unacceptable.”

“I think too many people are not paying attention anymore,” Zadecky added.

“They don't realize that one little thing could happen so quickly, and it changes all their lives forever,” she said, according to CBS Pittsburg.

Amanda Rivera was arrested on March 15 and charged the following day, March 16, with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She is now waiting for a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 15.