A man has been arrested after a three-year-old boy was hit and abandoned at a Surrey bus stop on Saturday.
At about 11 a.m., police received several calls about an abandoned child at 64 Avenue and 152 Street.
Witnesses say they saw a man strike the boy several times, then get on a bus, leaving the boy behind.
Witnesses told police they found the boy wearing swim trunks, a t-shirt and light jacket. They brought him into a nearby liquor store and gave him toys to play with while they alerted police.
Social media lit up with posts asking for anyone who could identify the boy or his parents.
Police say a surveillance camera from a store where the boy was found caught images of what appeared to be the man stealing three juice boxes.
Surrey RCMP were able to identify the boy and subsequently arrested his father on a bus at 176 Street and 64 Avenue.
RCMP were able to find the mother through contacts on the man’s cellphone.
The boy is now safely reunited with his mother, but the Ministry of Children and Families has been alerted.
Police say they are considering several contributing factors, including drug abuse and mental health issues.
Surrey RCMP say charges of theft, assault and abandoning a child are being recommended.
Surrey RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance, and asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident, are asked to call the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
