Man arrested on suspicion of leaving child in locked car
THE LAW
Leaving a child in a vehicle is punishable under the Texas Penal Code. A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is younger than 7 and not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is age 14 or older.
The offense is a Class C misdemeanor; however, if the child is injured, the charge is then elevated to child endangerment, which is a felony. The penalties are six months to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000.
Leaving a child unattended in a car is also a form of neglectful supervision.
If you suspect a child has been abused or neglected, or if you have any questions about whether the concern you have constitutes abuse or neglect, please call the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Abuse/Neglect Hotline at (800) 252-5400. For emergency situations, call your local law enforcement or 9-1-1 immediately.
Source: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
BROWNSVILLE — A Brownsville man has been arrested on a charge of child endangerment after police found his 15-month-old baby inside a locked car in the parking lot of a local grocery store.
Authorities had to force open the vehicle to remove the baby, who had been left behind while Oscar De Los Santos, 24, went inside the store, police said.
Police arrested De Los Santos on Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of the H.E.B. store at 2250 Boca Chica Blvd., said police spokesman Eddie Garcia.
A municipal judge arraigned the father Friday morning, setting bail at $20,000.
According to a police report, store employees contacted authorities after a customer informed them that a baby had been left in a locked car.
Police arrived to find the vehicle, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, with the windows up and the baby strapped in a child safety seat in the back seat. The engine was off.
“The child looked to be alert and scared,” the report states. “His face was red and looked to be sweating profusely.”
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Ildefonso Ortiz is a reporter for The Brownsville Herald.
