VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Additional security was on hand at the Deming Early Learning Center Friday morning after a 3-year-old child managed to wander out of the building undetected Thursday.

WTWO spoke to the child’s father, Anthony Keller, who said that he had filed a police report in response to learning his autistic child had been found roaming 19th Street by a cafeteria worker on who was on their lunch break.

Keller said it was his understanding that there was supposed to be four teachers in the classroom his child escaped from at the Deming Early Learning Center.

Vigo County School Corporation Interim Director of Communication Katie Shane confirmed an incident had occurred at the Deming Early Learning Center during which a student left the building and was returned by a staff member who spotted them outside.

School officials did not say how long the student had been out of the classroom before being found.

The Deming Early Learning Center provides both Pre-K and daycare services.

“This situation is upsetting for the entire school corporation. It does raise our awareness and safety measures are being put into place to prevent anything like this from happening again,” Shane said in a statement. “Student safety is our number one priority.”

School officials are reportedly investigating how the child managed to escape the classroom undetected and are working to establish protocols to prevent a similar issue from happening in the future. The Department of Child Services is investigating the situation as well.

Read the full VCSC Statement below;

The Vigo County School Corporation continues to investigate a concerning situation that happened Thursday at the Deming Early Learning Center. A student left his classroom and the school building, during the school day. Thankfully, a staff member spotted the student and brought him back inside the school building. 

The VCSC takes this matter very seriously. School administrators have been investigating this situation throughout the entirety of the day. We continue to look into how this happened – and more importantly – how it can be prevented in the future.

In addition, local law enforcement and the Department of Child Services have been contacted. DCS will be conducting its own investigation.

This situation is upsetting for the entire school corporation. It does raise our awareness and safety measures are being put into place to prevent anything like this from happening again. Student safety is our number one priority. 

School administrators and additional security will be on hand Friday morning. 

Katie Shane, VCSC Interim Director of Communications