Homeless Man Saves Lost 6-Year-Old Wandering Miami Streets

When Arnett Johnson saw a 6-year-old boy wandering alone near midnight on a dark Miami street, he didn't hesitate to call for help.

Johnson, who is homeless and was walking through Miami's Allapattah neighborhood where he typically sleeps, spotted the child roaming by himself Wednesday night. "My mind told me, the only thing I could do is call the police," he said.

Miami police responded quickly to the area near Northwest Seventh Avenue and 17th Street. When officers arrived, the boy, who has learning disabilities, told them his mother had dropped him off and left him there.

Police broadcast the boy's photo to find his family. The school he attends recognized him and provided officers with information that led them to his home.

Officers found the child's mother, Annie Rivera, 30, who told police she had put her son to bed Wednesday night, then left for work the next day without checking on him. Even when another child at the home asked where Rivera's son was, no one seemed to know his whereabouts until police called Thursday morning.

Sunny's Take

Johnson's selfless act shows that heroism isn't about what you have, but about what you're willing to give. Despite facing his own challenges with homelessness, he put a vulnerable child's safety first without a second thought.

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer ordered Rivera to have only supervised contact with her son and set bond at $2,500. The child is now safe in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families while the situation is resolved.

Johnson's humble response to the attention says it all: "I did what I had to do. Anybody would have probably done the same thing." In a moment when a child needed protection, this everyday hero stepped up.