Woman Charged After Children Found Selling Candy Near Busy Miami Street

Lauderdale Lakes, FL - A Florida woman has been arrested on allegations of child neglect after her children were found selling candy on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

According to police, 50-year-old Tamara Smith, of Lauderdale Lakes, was arrested after a concerned witness alerted authorities that two young girls were selling candy on Ocean Drive.

The girls reportedly told the witness that their grandmother was waiting for them to sell the candy.

Police launched an investigation and located five children, including Smith's grandchildren, entering a blue Dodge Caravan driven by Smith parked on 12th Street and Ocean Drive.

Authorities discovered that the youngest child was only 6 years old and that the children had no means of communication with Smith while selling candy.

According to Tamara's arrest report, officers learned that two of the children were Smith’s grandchildren and the three others were her children.

Smith was taken into custody and charged with child neglect.

The children were released to Tamara's adult son, Taril Smith, who is the father of one of the children.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified of Smith's arrest.