Police find missing child with dad

Monday, May 24, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

A 2-year-old Las Vegas child who was reported missing by his mother Saturday morning was found early today malnourished and being pushed in a stroller by his father in front of the Stratosphere hotel-casino, Metro Police said.

The father, Ian Held, 28, was arrested on seven outstanding traffic warrants and charges of possession of narcotics paraphernalia, child endangerment and child abuse. There were no abduction charges filed, police said.

Metro Missing Persons Lt. Brad Simpson said Held is the boy's biological father and the circumstances surrounding the child being taken by the man did not amount to abduction. He said police determined that endangerment and abuse were the appropriate charges based on the findings of their investigation.

The endangerment charge, police said, stems from the child being out in the elements and exposed to the father's alleged efforts to seek drugs.

The abuse charge, police said, stems from the apparent lack of available food for the child during the time he was missing and doctors at the University Medical Center, where the child was taken, finding evidence of malnutrition.

The Helds were found at 1:10 a.m. by a Metro Patrol officer who recognized the man pushing the stroller from photographs broadcast on television when the child was reported missing, Simpson said.

After Aiden Held was cleaned up and examined by doctors at UMC, he was turned over to Child Protective Services, not the mother.

"We wanted CPS to be involved because the father and mother had been living together at the time the child was reported missing," Simpson said. "We just wanted to make sure the child will be returned to a safe environment."

Ann Rubin, a manager for Child Protective Services, said because of state law she could not discuss the Held case specifically.

She said, however, typically the agency conducts an investigation into "safety concerns, assessing both parents, including living conditions and past protection issues."

Rubin said typically if the child cannot be immediately returned to a parent, the child is either placed with a relative following a background check, put in a temporary foster care situation that provides a home-like setting or remains at Child Haven. Parent generally are allowed visits, she said.

"We want to make the right decision, so we do not like to rush the situation," Rubin said, noting that typically a parent would be called in immediately to meet with a case worker and that within 48 hours the case would go before a family court judge.

Held was last seen early Saturday morning leaving the family's residence at 6300 W. Tropicana Ave. with his father, police said.

The dad and the boy had left the child's mother, Melissa Wilton, at a bus stop on Flamingo Road and Jones Boulevard, police said.

The mother told police Held might be panhandling in downtown Las Vegas. Police say they are looking into whether the child was used to attract donations.

No Amber Alert was issued because there was no indication of foul play, police said.

Sun reporter Mary Manning contributed to this story.