AUGUSTA — City police are waiting to see the medical condition of the 2-year-old boy who nearly drowned in the Kennebec River Friday evening before deciding whether to bring charges against anyone in connection with the incident.

Police have been investigating whether any crimes were committed that led to the toddler entering the river and nearly drowning Friday, but because of the ongoing investigation, they also have not confirmed that there will be charges.

“At this point we are waiting for the medical status of the child to stabilize one way or the other before any charges are filed,” Maj. Jared Mills of the Augusta Police Department wrote in an email Monday morning.

But police have not provided an update on the boy’s medical condition.

The boy was wearing a diaper and a hoodie when witnesses on the west side of the Kennebec River spotted him in the water and began yelling to people on the east side for help. After hearing the shouts, Sean Scanlon of Dresden, who happened to be at the river Friday night, entered the water in his clothes, pulled the boy out and tried to resuscitate him.

“He was blue in the face and his whole body was turning blue, and I knew he wasn’t breathing,” Scanlon said Saturday afternoon from the spot where he dove into the water. “I didn’t hesitate and I didn’t think. I was bringing that kid in one way or the other.”

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Augusta Fire and Rescue crews arrived shortly thereafter and took over lifesaving care, and the child became responsive and was taken to the hospital.

Police have not publicly identified the boy or his guardians.

“Police officers and detectives have been investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident in order to determine any crimes that may have been committed,” Mills said in a news release Saturday morning. “More information will be released in the near future if it is determined that formal charges will be filed.”

On Saturday, Scanlon said there was nobody in the park at the time of the incident except for him and his own son. He said he was told that police officers went door to door in the area and found the boy’s father asleep on a couch in a nearby residence.

Mills declined to comment on the identity of the parents or their whereabouts at the time of the incident.

Charles Eichacker — 621-5642

ceichacker@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @ceichacker


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