Missing Toddler Found Safe After Nearly 25 Hours

PASADENA (CBS2/AP) — A 3-year-old boy who was lost for 25 hours after his drunken father left him strapped in a car seat has been placed in protective custody after being found by a Good Samaritan.

Rowdy Metzger found Dylan Kurihara of West Covina asleep in a Pasadena parking garage Sunday night. Police and volunteers combed the area after the boy's mother reported him missing Sunday morning.

"You know, I didn't know what I was going to find, what I was even going to try to find. I just knew that it was a car and a kid. I'm gonna go looking in every alley, every bush, every dumpster," the 41-year-old said.

"I really didn't think I was going to find him even though that was my intention. So that when I did, it was shocking and frightening. And then it was great because he was fine," Metzger added.

EXCLUSIVE: Pasadena Man Recounts Hunt For Missing Boy: KNX 1070's Ed Mertz Reports

The father had been arrested Saturday night for public drunkenness but police say he forgot about the boy.

Sgt. Ed Calatayud says Dylan was slightly dehydrated but in good shape and is being held Monday by Los Angeles County child welfare officials until his home life in investigated.

Police say Dylan was strapped into the car after a wedding reception on Saturday night. His father remains jailed on suspicion of child endangerment.

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