A two-year-old boy slipped away from his family in northwest Ceres Sunday and into a pool where he drowned.
Aureliano Valdez was the victim's name.
The incident happened in the 900 block of Larsen Avenue. Ceres police received a call at approximately 7:15 p.m. from the child's mother, Florcita Valdez, 34, reporting Aureliano missing from the home. She was baking a cake with a friend when the child apparently slipped into the backyard. Officers arrived within 10 minutes and began checking the home and surrounding. Officers were concerned about the home's backyard swimming pool because they were unable to see the bottom due to algae in the water.
Ceres firefighters were called to assist and used tools to reach the bottom of the eight-foot-deep end of the pool where the child was located. CPR was started but the boy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he later died.
The pool was surrounded by a chain-link fence that had a gate which could not be latched. Florcita Valdez reported that the child knew how to get to the pool area.
The Ceres Police Department is currently investigating this incident. Any persons who may have witnessed the incident can contact Detective Derek Perry at 538-5730.
Aureliano Valdez was the victim's name.
The incident happened in the 900 block of Larsen Avenue. Ceres police received a call at approximately 7:15 p.m. from the child's mother, Florcita Valdez, 34, reporting Aureliano missing from the home. She was baking a cake with a friend when the child apparently slipped into the backyard. Officers arrived within 10 minutes and began checking the home and surrounding. Officers were concerned about the home's backyard swimming pool because they were unable to see the bottom due to algae in the water.
Ceres firefighters were called to assist and used tools to reach the bottom of the eight-foot-deep end of the pool where the child was located. CPR was started but the boy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he later died.
The pool was surrounded by a chain-link fence that had a gate which could not be latched. Florcita Valdez reported that the child knew how to get to the pool area.
The Ceres Police Department is currently investigating this incident. Any persons who may have witnessed the incident can contact Detective Derek Perry at 538-5730.
