INDIANAPOLIS -- The mother of a 7-month-old boy found alone in what police called a filthy apartment was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of neglect.

Officers discovered the boy alone in an apartment at 735 W. 11th Street just after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the door to the apartment was ajar and that the residence was littered with trash and garbage. There did not appear to be any food or a crib in the apartment, officers said.

Several minutes after officers arrived, Alexis Green, 22, the child's mother, came back to the apartment, police said.

When she was asked why she had left the baby alone, Green told officers she had only left for a minute to go take care of her other babies across the street.

Police said Green has two other children. They were not at the apartment at the time.

Officers said they had been called to the home before after someone reported a child wandering outside with no parent.

"There is a problem here," said Indianapolis Metro police Lt. Jeff Duhamell. "Fortunately, it appears that the kids are OK, but they've got to find out what's going on with mom."

A neighbor who did not wish to be identified told 6News that Green thought a babysitter was caring for the boy.

Green was arrested on charges of neglect of a dependent and was being held Wednesday night on $25,000 bond. Child Protective Services took custody of the boy.