Child Left at Chuck E. Cheese after a Birthday Party
On March 2, 2024, the West Melbourne Police Department responded to a report of a found 4 year old child at the Chuck E. Cheese located at 2250 Coastal Lane. The child’s identity was unknown and no one returned for the child by the time the business closed for the evening. Through the assistance of the community via social media, Chuck E. Cheese staff, Department of Children and Families (DCF), and law enforcement, the child was identified later that night. Phone contact was made with the legal guardian of the child, Sheteria Steadman who immediately returned to Chuck E. Cheese. Upon arrival Steadman confirmed the child was in her custody and was left behind when she left at approximately 7:00 pm. Steadman was informed by law enforcement the child would remain in the custody of DC pending the outcome of an investigation.
On March 4, 2024, further investigation revealed the child was in Steadman’s custody the evening of March 2, 2024 and she was unaware the child had been left behind until she received the phone call from law enforcement 4 hours later. Steadman was placed under arrest and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm and transferred to the Brevard County Jail where she is being held with a $2,500 bond.
The West Melbourne Police Department would like to thank the community for their assistance in helping to identify the child. Ultimately, the community and the use of social media resulted in a child receiving much needed assistance and placement in a safe and nurturing environment.
