A homeless former convict in Miami rescued a lost 6-year-old boy he found wandering the streets late Wednesday night, earning commendation from officers who emphasized the potential dangers the child faced had he not intervened.

Arnett Johnson, who has been living on a bench in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood since his release from prison six months ago, spotted the young boy unaccompanied shortly before midnight.

Johnson, accustomed to the peculiarities of street life, credited divine intervention for his timely presence and swift action. "God sent me there. I had to do what God said to do," he expressed to Local10.

After ensuring the boy's parents were not in the vicinity, Johnson contacted the police and stayed with the child until authorities arrived to take him into their care.

Miami police Officer Mike Vega commended the homeless man for his quick thinking, acknowledging the potentially dire consequences had the boy not been rescued. "Kudos to him. We don’t know what would have happened if he would have remained on the streets," Vega remarked.

The child, whose identity has not been disclosed, was placed under the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families following the incident.

Subsequently, a school officer recognized the boy from a missing child flyer and alerted the Miami Police Department, leading to the identification of his mother, Annie Rivera.

Rivera, 30, was arrested and charged with child neglect without bodily harm after a witness reported her and her son missing the previous night, with Rivera returning home alone in the early hours of the following morning.

The boy is now in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families while his mother faces legal consequences for the neglect.