A 3-year-old boy walked out the door of his day care Friday and was found wandering the streets of Salem, Massachusetts, about half an hour later, according to police.
Police said officers were called in around 11:17 a.m. after a USPS worker found the child wandering the area of Palmer Street. The boy was taken to the hospital for evaluation as a precaution.
While officers were on scene staff from Salem Community Childcare Inc., a day care on Congress Street, approached them and reported that they were searching for a missing child. Investigators say the boy opened the door of the day care around 10:45 a.m. and walked out.
The child. Damien, is safe at home with his family. His parents demanded to see surveillance video from inside the day care and were shocked by what they saw.
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"A lot of things could have happened and it's just not OK," Damien's mother Martha Esquivel said.
Damien was four blocks from the day care, near a gas station, when mail carrier David Moulton spotted him and called police.
"He was heading for a busy street there and I just reacted," Moulton explained.
Damien was not hurt, but now his family is demanding answers about what happened.
"He tried to open the door 15 times," Damien's grandmother Jenny Gomez said.
She said the surveillance footage showed Damien trying to get out for 30 minutes before he made his escape.
"How is it that the 3-year-old tries to open a door a heavy door from a day care and the teachers are there and they don’t even notice?" she asked.
The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care are looking into the case. Salem police continue to investigate.
NBC10 Boston reached out to Salem Community Childcare Inc. on Tuesday, who did say they are cooperating with the investigation. They declined further comment.
