The mother of a young boy found running by himself in the Englewood neighborhood late Monday night has been charged with endangering a child, police said.

Carla S. Conrad, 27, of the 7100 block of South Wood St. has been charged with one misdemeanor count of endangering the life/health of a child, according to police.

The boy, believed to be 3 or 4, was running on the sidewalk in the 7200 block of South Hermitage Avenue about 11:23 p.m., according to police. Someone saw the boy and called police, who picked him up and handed him over to DCFS child welfare workers.

On Tuesday morning, police located the boy's mother.

The state Department of Children and Family Services was investigating allegations of neglect against the mother, according to spokesman Jimmie Whitelow. He said the agency has had no prior contact with the mother, but could not say if there were other children in the home.

Inadequate supervision was the third leading cause of death in 2012 in cases involving children where abuse and neglect were indicated, Whitelow said.

Conrad is expected to appear Feb. 26 in Domestic Violence Court (Br. 61-2) at 555 W. Harrison St.

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