5-Year-Old Boy Found Alone At Detroit Coney Island

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 5-year-old boy is back with his mother after he was found at the Aloha Coney Cafe on Gratiot and Connor, early Monday morning, on Detroit's east side.

Detroit police Sgt. Michael Woody told WWJ Newsradio 950 the child, who was discovered alone at around 3 a.m., was taken to the 9th Precinct where he was looked after until his family was located.

He was able to tell officers his first and last name.

Police said, as it turned out, little Jason Banks was staying over his grandmother's house while his mother was out celebrating her birthday. At some point, however, he decided it was time to go.

"This little boy was put to bed at his grandma's house," said Officer Robert Cane, with the Detroit Police Department's Special Victims Unit. "He decided he wanted to go home — which was at mama's house  — and he got himself dressed, with this sister's clothes, and unlocked the front door, and left with his golf clubs."

"Grandma's highly upset," Cane said. "They woke up this morning to Jason missing. The police were called right away. They searched the house, they searched the neighborhood, and then it was found out that he was here at the Eastern District."

Jason's mom, Jewel Banks, told WWJ's Vickie Thomas and other reporters she's thankful that he's OK.

"I feel wonderful ... I just wanna get him home safe," she said.

Cane said he gave the boy a little talking to.

"I just told him that it's not safe to be by yourself at any age, and I told him he can't do this anymore and he has to stay put," Cane said. "I you wanna see mom, someone has to take you to mom. You can't go on your own."