Boy’s condition critical after fall

Lolita Harper

Police are staying tight lipped on information about the fall of a

3-year-old Westside boy from a two-story balcony. The child remains

in critical condition at a local hospital.

The boy, whose name officials are not releasing because he is a

minor, fell from an apartment balcony on Thursday afternoon after his

mom left him alone on the balcony while she quickly ran inside to

grab something, police said Friday.

Costa Mesa police responded to a call for medical aide at 3:30

p.m. in the 500 block of Joann Street, Sgt. Frank Rudisill said. The

mother, whose name is not being released by police, told the officers

she had just stepped inside for a moment, when her son fell 9 feet to

the concrete below.

The little boy was transferred to Western Medical Center in Santa

Ana. Because of his age, hospital spokeswoman Shelle Bilhartz

declined comment about his injuries.

No arrests have been made in connection the incident, and as of

yet, no criminal investigation has begun, Rudisill said. Law

enforcement officials are also being very careful with the details

they will release to the public.

“Obviously, we are going to look into it, but right now, there is

an information hold on it,” Rudisill said.

Rudisill described an “information hold” as a routine block on

releasing details about an incident until further investigation is

completed. Department spokesman Lt. Dale Birney confirmed the hold.

Costa Mesa Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Riley, who was

not on the scene at the time of the incident, offered on Friday

general safety tips and precautions to avoid similar disasters. Riley

said it is imperative that parents and caretakers never underestimate

children.

Children are so quick on their feet and can be in harm’s way in an

instant, he said. In a matter of seconds, a life-changing event can

happen, he said. “Children are capable of doing just about anything

if left alone for only a few seconds,” Riley said.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.