Young child found only in underwear outdoors, father arrested

A child in Lee County was found in nothing but his underwear near a canal by his father’s home. Police say his father was drinking at home, and there was marijuana the boy could get his hands on. The boy is staying with his biological mother now.

Cape Coral Police Department arrested Raymel Santiesteban Wednesday after they responded to a neighbor who reported his young child outside in only his underwear.

Santiesteban picked up his son from a daycare at 4 p.m. He told police he immediately started drinking shots of alcohol when he got home.

A neighbor heard the child crying and found him sitting in his yard only in underwear.

When police arrived at the home, they took the child to a patrol car and wrapped him in a blanket with a teddy bear.

Police found Santiesteban drunk asleep in his bed. They said he had a room in his home with marijuana and glass pipes his son felt comfortable playing in.

“There are situations with him, not a very good guy,” neighbor Erica Moore said. “Put it like that, it’s sad that it had to happen like that, but I hope that he’s got an eye opener, and I hope that things work better from here on out.”

Santiesteban is facing charges including child neglect and drug possession.

Trust WINK News to update you as more information becomes available.