A Roaring Spring man who told police that “he never should have let the child home alone” faces child endangerment charges after the 4-year-old boy walked into traffic Wednesday afternoon.

Aaron John Devers, 23, told state police that he left the child unsupervised while he walked to the Turkey Hill in Roaring Spring, according to court documents.

At 5:34 p.m., state police were dispatched to the 700 block of East Main Street for reports of a young child found with no adult supervision. A female witness said she saw the boy wandering in the middle of the busy street. Another witness said the boy attempted to enter a parked vehicle from the driver’s side door and a number of vehicles passed by in close proximity to the child.

Devers arrived on scene before police, and, when questioned, said he was walking to the store to purchase vapes.

The mother of the boy arrived home from work while police were on scene and said Devers was supposed to be watching the child. While speaking to the two, police noticed the boy’s face and right eye were red and swollen. Devers admitted to police he slapped the boy “to discipline him for talking back,” the report states. AMED transported the child to Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, Roaring Spring, for evaluation.

Devers was arraigned Wednesday night before Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller on misdemeanor charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Unable to post $25,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison.

His preliminary hearing is June 22 before Magisterial District Judge Andrew L. Blattenberger.