Chattooga County Deputies were called out to Lake Wanda Reita Road in Summerville on Monday due to a complaint from a woman who said a child had wandered into her yard unaccompanied by an adult. The woman said that she knew the child lived next door and that she was between the ages of 2 and 3.

The Officer observed that the child was sitting in the woman’s lap in only a wet diaper with a pink iPad. The woman told officers that she went next door to to alert the guardian and that the guardians front door was wide open and the father was asleep on the couch and they tried to wake him up but were unable to. When officer’s went to the guardians house the door was still wide open and they saw Lance Gazaway asleep on his couch. The responding officer had to yell at Gazaway to get him to wake up and once he did he was in a confused and dazed state. Gazaway was asked if he knew where his daughter was and he said she was taking a nap, he was then advised that she was no longer in that residence because she had opened the door and went into the neighbors yard.

After talking with Gazaway the officer noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. They went to the neighbors house to get the child from the neighbor and once the got back to Gazaway’s residence the officer called DFACs to let them know of the situation and while on the call the child’s great aunt arrived on scene to take the child. Gazaway was asked about his daughters information but due to his level of intoxication he was unable to give any information other than the child’s name. Gazaway stated that he had only had a few shots.

Gazaway was then placed under arrest for Cruelty to Children in the first degree due to the fact that he placed the child’s health and well being in danger because he was intoxicated. The child was then placed into the custody of her Great Aunt and took to a safe location. The child was not harmed by anyone or anything.