A mom in Georgia is speaking out about being arrested for reckless conduct after her then-10-year-old son was found walking alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brittany Patterson, 41, was arrested by deputies on Oct. 30 after a witness reported “a juvenile in the roadway” who had gone into and left a nearby Dollar General store, according to a Fannin County Sheriff’s Office report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patterson’s son, Soren, now 11, was later found by deputies around one mile from the family’s home. Patterson had left Soren to take another one of her children to a doctor’s appointment and didn’t report him missing, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the state, neglect by a parent can be defined as a “failure to provide a child with adequate supervision necessary for such child’s well-being,” according to a guideline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patterson told ABC News’ Andrea Fujii<\/a> in an interview Friday that she had been annoyed Soren didn’t tell her where he was going, but didn’t think he was in any danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I wasn’t panicking or concerned because it’s just a short walk from our house. He knows how to get home,” Patterson said.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In bodycam footage released by the sheriff’s office, Patterson can be seen asking a deputy, “What am I under arrest for?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “For reckless endangerment,” the deputy replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “And how was I recklessly endangering my child?” Patterson asked, before another deputy responded, “We’re not talking about it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deputies then handcuffed the mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the arrest, Patterson also said to one of the deputies, “Last time I checked, it wasn’t illegal for a kid to walk to the store.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n