Watch CBS News

4-Year-Old Drowns In Backyard Creek At Birthday Party

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ) -- Birthday celebrations in Anne Arundel County turn tragic when one of the guests drowns in a backyard creek.

As Gigi Barnett explains, detectives are warning parents about summer safety rules.

Anne Arundel County Police say a relative brought 4-year-old Jaden Dixon to a house in the 1100-block of Marley Creek Drive in Glen Burnie Saturday. There was a front-yard birthday going on, but at some point, guests noticed Dixon was missing.

"A lot of people that have children, especially toddlers, know how quickly they can get away from you," said Anne Arundel County Police spokesman Lt. T.J. Smith.

A quick search led to the backyard. Police say Dixon  made his way into the Marley Creek from a small pier. There, guests discovered him floating in the water. They pulled him to shore and started CPR.

"I heard screaming and then a few minutes later I heard the sirens," said neighbor Jennifer Swan.

Swan lives down the street. She says most of her neighbors have piers and many of them don't swim in the Marley Creek.

"It's full of jet skis and boats, and as far as I knew, it wasn't really deep off the bulkhead, but I guess deep enough for him to drown," she said.

Now, in light of Dixon's death, detectives are urging parents to be prepared and learn CPR, especially during the summer months.

"In Anne Arundel County, we're near water. Everybody needs to learn CPR. Unfortunately, it didn't work in this situation. But in the memory of Jaden, go out and learn CPR," Smith said.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit were called to the scene and took over the case, but early reports indicate that Dixon's death was an accident.

The county's crisis response team also responded to the scene to help witnesses and family members.

Other Local News:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.