The couple now faces child abandonment charges, accused of trying to leave their 6-year-old at a police precinct.
The parents insist it was only a scare tactic.
Samantha Kenny-Perez wishes her neighbors had asked for help.
"I think I would have called every person I knew and more. My last resource would be ACS," she said.
The couple who live right downstairs from Samantha are named in a criminal complaint because police say they brought their 6-year-old daughter to the 120th police precinct and tried to leave her there.
"I can't take her anymore," the mother allegedly told police, "She is uncontrollable. I 'm going to leave her here. If you don't take her, I will take her to the firehouse."
District Attorney Dan Donovan says his office is trying to get a full picture of what happened and what led to the couple's actions.
"We don't want people abandoning or ditching their kid," he said.
Donovan is looking into those matters. Police who were on hand at the 120th precinct did not let the family leave with the 6-year-old.
The child is back in the care of her parents. They are due back in court next month.
