Mom Allegedly Leaves Toddler Home Alone with Potato Chips

By Anna Lothson

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Dec 11, 2009 at 12:23 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 11, 2009 at 12:44 PM CST

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City woman faces charges after allegedly leaving her 2-year-old daughter home alone for at least an hour Wednesday.

Police responded to the residence of Felisha Rufus, 22, for a complaint that a small child was inside the apartment alone at 1:41 p.m.

The child was discovered by someone who came to the apartment to spray for insects, police said.

“The child had been feeding herself from a large bowl of potato chips that had apparently been left out for her,” according to the complaint.

Police said they were initially unable to find Rufus, so responding officers took the child into custody before the Department of Human Services arrived to assist.

An hour later when police made contact with her, police said Rufas was “indifferent to the situation,” and told police she was unable to respond to the police station because she was “busy running an errand,” according to the complaint.

Police said when she arrived at the police department she was arrested, but resisted officers while they attempted to handcuff her, and was physically and verbally abusive during the pat down.

Rufas was charged with child endangerment without injury and interference with official acts.

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