Welcome to Arrest Stories. A thirty-five-year-old Florida father has been arrested after his autistic son was found naked and alone on an Interstate Four entrance ramp while the man continued making food deliveries, prioritizing his service rating over his missing child.
Here's what may have happened according to official reports.
On Thursday, October sixteenth, in Altamonte Springs, a harrowing scene unfolded when bystanders spotted a young boy with autism running naked on an Interstate Four entrance ramp. The child was moments away from entering heavy traffic when Good Samaritans sprang into action.
One witness described the terrifying rescue, stating, "I was running pretty fast. Anything could've happened in a matter of seconds because cars were zooming by. It was like we were running a quarter-mile run, and I had to catch this kid. I'm not going to let him go out into traffic. I have to save him."
The child's father, thirty-five-year-old Jeremy Rouse, was working as an Uber Eats delivery driver when the incident occurred. According to police reports, Rouse discovered his son was missing from the back seat of his vehicle but made a shocking decision that would lead to his arrest.
Rather than immediately searching for his child or contacting authorities, Rouse admitted to continuing his food deliveries. When questioned by investigators, he provided a disturbing explanation for his actions, telling officers, "I didn't want to negatively affect my rating."
Police say Rouse initially claimed, "I thought the child was in the back seat," but later acknowledged knowing the boy was missing. He reportedly feared that stopping his deliveries would hurt his Uber Eats rating and potentially lead to his arrest.
The child's mother discovered her son was missing only after waking up at home. Meanwhile, strangers were risking their lives to save the vulnerable boy from oncoming traffic on one of Florida's busiest highways.
Rouse now faces charges related to child endangerment in this deeply troubling case that highlights the dangerous consequences of misplaced priorities.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.