To give you the full story. Last Thursday I go up in the morning and did some xmas shopping and went to work. While I was at work the Mrs. was watching my daughter. She had to use the bathroom at one point and while she was using the restroom my 4 year old sneaked out of the house. One she was done using the bathroom she looked for my daughter and realized she was no longer in the house and seen that my daughter left the back door opened. She ran outside seen neighbors kids and asked them if they seen my daughter. They told her she went into the mountains behind my house. The Mrs panicked and ran into the wood to look for my daughter in doing so she found her self lost and it took 2 hours to get back out and call the police. The good news is my daughter didn't go into the woods she walked about a block down chasing her cat and was caught by a policeman. He turned her into Child Protection Services. The Mrs was arrested for neglect. I personally feel it wasn't neglect that panicking and exercise in poor judgment.
The thing that bothers me with me having no questionable past did Child Protection Services have the right to take my daughter without contacting me. To my understanding the child must be in imminent danger, meaning that the endangerment was planned, waiting to happen, or willful. Which I had none of that against me with my not even being in house. Also I thought it required a court order. I personally feel my right as a father was violated. I thought they had to legally contact me in an event like this. Am I wrong in feeling this way and do I have any legal rights I can go after them to get my daughter?Any suggestions would be appreciated.

