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Firefighter arrested after child found in traffic in Canfield Twp.
By Joe Gorman
CANFIELD
A part-time firefighter with the Cardinal Joint Fire District was arrested early Friday evening on a child-endangering charge after his 2-year-old son was found wandering in traffic with his pants down to his ankles.
Neil P. Cornelius, 36, of Tippecanoe Road, Canfield Township, was booked into the Mahoning County jail by deputies who were called to his home. Jail records show he was released from jail Saturday after posting bond, and arraigned before Judge Scott Hunter in Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield on Monday.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 19. Cornelius pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.
Deputies were called to the 5100 block of Tippecanoe Road about 8:05 p.m. Friday for a report of a child walking in the street, and when they arrived, they found several witnesses trying to figure out who the child’s parents were.
A woman then walked up the street and the child called the woman his mother, reports said. The woman then said she went to pick the child up at the home of his father, Cornelius, but found him passed out at a desk from drinking.
The mother told deputies she could not find her son inside the home but when she saw the cruisers and crowd up the street, she walked up there wondering if her son was there.
Reports said Cornelius staggered out of his house toward the street and smelled heavily of alcohol.
Deputies asked him when was the last time he saw his son and he said about 3:30 or 4 p.m. He seemed surprised it was after 8 p.m., reports said.
When asked to write a statement, Cornelius wrote he had last seen his son at 6:30 p.m., and when asked why he changed the time he said he was “confused,” reports said.
Reports said witnesses told deputies both lanes of traffic had stopped so no one would hit the child, and one person picked the child up and got him off the street and called 911.
Fire Chief Don Hutchison said Cornelius has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of his case.
The leave is unpaid because as a part-time firefighter, Cornelius would get paid only when he was scheduled to work or called out, Hutchison said.