04/30/2024 - Bayway Employees Locate Unattended Children

On April 30, 2024 at approximately 8:00 a.m., a Bayway Transit driver discovered a two-year-old male walking alone in the area of E. 3rd Street and Bob Little Road. Bayway employees activated their Safe Place protocol and transported the child to the Panama City Police Department.

Bayway passengers told employees they believed another child was also alone in the area, and the employees began searching for the child. At approximately 9:20 a.m., a second Bayway employee found the second child, a four-year-old female, in the same area.

At approximately 9:45 a.m., officers from the Springfield Police Department located the residence where the children lived, the 500 block of Bob Little Road, and made contact with Nicole Marie Smith, 27, and Douglas James Bickelman, 31.

The unsanitary condition of the home raised significant concerns and multiple safety hazards were observed. A search warrant was obtained, and a thorough search of the home was conducted.

As a result of the investigation, Smith and Bickelman were both charged with Child Neglect. Both individuals were transported to the Bay County Jail to await first appearance in court.

"The safety and welfare of all members of our community, especially children, are of paramount importance," said Police Chief Barry Roberts. "We commend the vigilance of the Bayway employees who reported these incidents, and we are grateful for their assistance in ensuring the safety of these children."

The Springfield Police Department would like to thank the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, the Panama CityPolice Department, and the Bayway employees for their assistance in this investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Investigator Raven Rowland at (850) 872-7545. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (850) 785-TIPS.

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