Springfield police began their investigation when they were called to North Street Friday evening. A man called police to tell them a child was almost hit by several vehicles.
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“Officers arrived and spoke with the reporting person,” the report says. “(The man) stated that he was driving west on North Street when he witnessed the child victim running in the middle of the street, almost struck by several cars. (The man) stated he stopped his vehicle and ran towards the child victim. He then waited for police on the sidewalk with the child victim.”
While officers were speaking with the witness, Ratcliff arrived on scene, the report says.
“Ms. Ratcliff stated that she was trying to find shoes for the child victim, and she did not know he had exited the house. Ms. Ratcliff stated that she had been looking for the child when she saw officers had located him on the corner of North Plum St and West North Street,” the report says.
Officers spoke to a neighbor who told them she was inside her home when she heard multiple car horns and the sound of vehicles slamming on their brakes.
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“She stated she walked outside and saw the child victim running down the middle fo West North Street. She stated that she recognized the child victim, because he had previously been outside unattended,” the report says.
Ratcliff was arrested at the scene and was booked into the Clark County Jail on one count of child endangering, according to the police report.
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