NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Police searching for a missing 4-year-old boy have charged a Hudson Valley man with allowing the child to wander off while in his care.

Newburgh city police Sgt. Paul Weber says 30-year-old Cory Byrd is charged Tuesday with endangering the welfare of the child, his girlfriend’s son.

Authorities say Byrd was getting ready to take Marc Anthony Bookal to visit a relative early Monday afternoon when the boy walked out of their apartment ahead of Byrd. A search of the area failed to turn up any sign of him.

He’s being held for arraignment in Newburgh City Court. Weber doesn’t know if Byrd has a lawyer.

Weber says the boy’s mother wasn’t home when he disappeared. He says about 50 local police officers and state troopers are involved in the search.