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A toddler found wandering unsupervised in Loma Linda prompted a welfare check that led to felony arrests and renewed focus on child home-safety risks.
A 2-year-old child was found walking alone on a roadway in Loma Linda, California, after a school bus driver stopped and stayed with the toddler until deputies arrived, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The Sheriff’s Department said the encounter occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on Jan. 15, and the agency publicly described the incident on Jan. 20.
Investigators later identified the child’s residence and conducted a welfare check, where deputies reported finding firearms and narcotics accessible to the toddler and other children in the home.
The development matters because California child-endangerment cases can involve both public safety risks—such as a young child exposed to traffic—and conditions inside a residence that authorities deem hazardous.
The Sheriff’s Department said both parents were arrested and booked into the county jail in San Bernardino, with felony charges that include child abuse and possession of a controlled substance while armed.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said a school bus driver came upon a 2-year-old child walking alone on a roadway in Loma Linda and called authorities, staying with the toddler until deputies arrived.
Investigators later identified the child’s home and carried out a welfare check at the residence.
During that check, deputies reported finding multiple firearms and narcotics stored in areas accessible to the toddler and several older children.
Loma Linda is in San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles, and the case was handled through the Sheriff’s Department’s Central Station in San Bernardino.
Authorities identified the parents as 36-year-old Monae Myers and 34-year-old Dantion Green McGuire. Both were arrested and booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.
Officials said they face felony charges that include child abuse, possession of a controlled substance while armed, and animal cruelty.
The Sheriff’s Department has not released details about the specific firearms or substances involved.
Under California Penal Code Section 273a, child endangerment includes placing a child in situations likely to cause harm, even if no injury occurs. State law also allows criminal charges when firearms are not securely stored and children can access them.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has released details about the discovery of the 2-year-old by a school bus driver and the welfare check that followed.
News outlets reported the arrests and charges based on those law-enforcement statements. Authorities have not said where the children were taken after the arrests, and officials typically limit public information in cases involving minors.
The department has asked anyone with information related to the family or the investigation to contact deputies.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks posed when young children are left unsupervised near roadways. Safety officials have long noted that toddlers are difficult for drivers to see, particularly in residential areas with low-speed traffic.
Investigators also cited conditions inside the home. California law allows criminal charges when firearms are not stored securely and children can access them.
Cases involving arrests and minors commonly result in separate child welfare reviews focused on supervision and home safety, even when those proceedings are not made public.
Federal data shows that many children in the U.S. live in homes with firearms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 30 million children were in households with guns in 2021, including roughly 4.6 million in homes where firearms were kept loaded and unlocked.
The agency has linked unsecured firearms to accidental shootings involving children and teens.
In this case, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has asked anyone with information to contact its Central Station at 909-366-4175.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through WeTip, which operates a national hotline and online reporting system. Public reports connected to the case listed the WeTip number as 800-78-CRIME (27463).
Authorities said the child was found around 4:15 p.m. on Jan. 15 walking alone on a roadway in Loma Linda, California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department publicly described the incident on Jan. 20.
The Sheriff’s Department said a school bus driver discovered the 2-year-old and remained with the child until deputies arrived. Officials have not publicly identified the driver.
During a welfare check at the child’s home, deputies reported finding multiple firearms and narcotics stored in areas accessible to the toddler and other children. Authorities have not released details about the specific items recovered.
Officials said the parents were arrested based on allegations of child endangerment and related offenses. Reported charges include felony child abuse, possession of a controlled substance while armed, and animal cruelty.
Authorities said the parents were booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. No further custody details have been released.
What to Know as the Case Moves Forward
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has said the investigation remains active. Following the arrests, the case will be reviewed by prosecutors, who will determine whether to file formal charges.
If charges are filed, the next court step is typically an arraignment, where the defendants are informed of the allegations and enter pleas. Cases involving minors may also lead to separate child welfare reviews, which are usually not handled in public court proceedings.
The case has raised immediate public safety concerns, starting with a toddler found wandering alone on a roadway and extending to conditions inside the home that authorities say created additional risks.
It also reflects California’s broader enforcement of child endangerment and firearm storage laws, which are designed to prevent harm before injuries occur. Further updates are expected only if charges are formally filed or authorities release new information.
