Florida daycare worker charged after child runs across busy u. S. 27 highway — Ambulance - File Photo

FRUITLAND PARK, FL – A daycare worker in Lake County is facing a child neglect charge after a young boy under her supervision was seen running across U.S. Highway 27 late Friday morning, narrowly avoiding oncoming vehicles traveling at speeds up to 50 mph. The child was not injured and was returned safely to the daycare by passing motorists.

Concerned drivers began calling police shortly after 11 a.m. Friday when they spotted the child darting through traffic near County Road 466A, according to a probable cause affidavit. Several drivers pulled over and intervened, escorting the boy back to the daycare facility.

Halee Russo, 27, was later arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. She was booked into the Lake County Jail and has since posted a $2,500 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 6.

Conflicting accounts and witness statements

Russo initially told deputies she routinely checks that the playground gate leading to the parking lot is secured but admitted she did not do so that day, according to investigators. She said the child slipped out while she was attending to other children and claimed she ran after him within seconds.

Russo told deputies she caught up to the boy as a parent near the front entrance intervened. However, investigators said multiple witnesses reported seeing the child run across the highway, contradicting her account and indicating a longer period during which the child was unsupervised.

According to the affidavit, Russo later became emotional and acknowledged discrepancies. She said she last saw the child preparing to go down a slide before turning her attention to another upset child and estimated she lost track of him for about two minutes.

Statements about supervision and gate access

Russo also told deputies the playground gate was locked and suggested the child may have crawled underneath it to get out. She further stated she was “just doing what her boss told her,” and claimed she had been instructed to lie about the incident so the daycare would not be shut down, according to the report.

“The defendant confirmed the juvenile was solely in her care and she was not providing the juvenile with adequate supervision, putting the well-being of the juvenile at risk,” officers wrote in the affidavit.

Authorities said Russo has been employed at the daycare since November 2024. The name of the facility was not released in the report.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.