Florida woman charged after 6-year-old found ‘covered with fleas,’ deputies say

A Florida woman is facing a child neglect charge after deputies said they discovered a child “covered with fleas” inside a home near Fort Walton Beach.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Toni Reid, 58, was arrested Friday, more than a week after deputies responded to the home because the 6-year-old had locked Reid outside.

"Deputies were able to enter and located the child hiding inside a closet," the Sheriff's Office said. "There were also three dogs at the house, including a 17-year-old dog that could not walk and was covered with flies."

Fleas were crawling on the child, and dog waste littered the floor, authorities said.

"Deputies also reported becoming covered in fleas while at the residence," the Sheriff's Office added.