You left a 2-year-old by herself and you went to the store. >> But I don't feel like it was extreme. >> You okay? >> You need a hug? >> Come here. >> These children are [music] not only influenced. They also mirror the care, patience, and calmness of the adults around them. >> She walked around, grabbed the kid, jerked him out the car, grabbed his started him in the head. >> I have never had a problem with my kids in the car. >> My dad, he works there. >> Yeah, but you're driving it. I don't care about your dad. >> Let's support the efforts of those ensuring their safety, [music] creating an environment where peace and protection nurture these young hearts. Disciplining children is a familiar story for parents or guardians. But where exactly is the appropriate boundary? Let's follow the situation below to find out. Something's getting dark, right? These poor kids are sick. On May 10th, 2023, officers were called to a bus stop in Florida after reports that [music] a grandmother may have handled her 5-year-old grandson too strictly witnessed by several bystanders. Those nearby quickly stepped in to ensure the child's wellbeing. >> Hello. >> I'm the one that called the one that best friend who goes to his house every day in prison. Yes, I did. All all the things I have to go and then we can talk to them. >> Look at him. There's not a bruise on him. I did I went to him here, hit his head. They're all drama queens. He wants to put me in jail. My daughter all the time. His kids in prison and he's on all the time. >> So, uh >> I have legal custody of the children. >> That's fine. >> All under counseling. >> Okay. >> They have disciplineary problems. The mother's she comes in out of the light. She comes in another light. I did smack them. Then he starts hollering. She starts hollering. And this lady says the same. So everybody is like >> the bus pulled up. She's got three of the little guy in the front seat and two granddaughters. Two kids. One was sitting over here already. The other one was in the car. The bus pulled up. The older one got out. The two got on the bus. Little man didn't want to get out of the car. He opened the passenger door on this side. He was on the back right side. >> Come on. Come on. Yelling, screaming at him. She walked around, grabbed the kid, jerked him out the car, grabbed his ass, started him in the head. This lady jumped out yelling and screaming, "Stop. Stop." I ran over to yell at her, and all of a sudden, she just went crazy. Crazy. A little scared. Go ask him. Talk to him. >> Uh, hey buddy. You okay? >> The conversation between the police [music] and the child was kept confidential. However, according to the report, he said the grandmother held his hair because he didn't want to go to school. [music] The grandmother later gave a softer account of the incident. So what happened with the like what led up to it like the bus like hurry up hurry up and the bus wait I said come on come on you got to go there and I went to grab I said come on and I went to slap my shoulder I'll help you out right >> you okay >> you need a hug we'll figure it out Okay. >> Don't worry about it. >> And were you guys like screaming or anything after? >> She was trying to get the bus and she comes out screaming. I see I see. >> Yeah. >> We pulled up. She's got um the little man and two other kids. She's got all three of her brain. The uh middle one, she got out and was sitting with my grandson and the rest of them, you know, like they on the driveway. >> Uhhuh. >> The older one stayed in the car. Bus come. The older one got out. This one got up. They all got on the bus and um bus was here. She's yelling, "Get out, get out, get out." And then all of a sudden, I heard the door slam. I jumped out and I started walking that way and I hear her screaming, yelling, person. She opened the passenger door on the right side, brought the kid out, whacked him on his butt three or four times and then grabbed his head and started smacking the [ __ ] out of him in the face. All three of us just jumped out, started yelling and screaming out, "Mind your own business." We grabbed the kid. She's trying to get the kid. That's my kid. Mind your own business. All he is this and that. We're like, "You're going to jail. I ain't going nowhere. You're all a bunch of idiots and I'll do what I want. They're my kids. If you put them in the car cuz he was scared. She's trying to get to the car to get to the kid." We're like, "Wa." She's like, "That's my kids. You're not putting them in the car." Calm down. >> Yeah. I told you what happened. >> I know. But there's probably three different people saying one thing. You saying actually we have four different people saying one thing. He's running around. Got to get on the bus. If I would have known, I wouldn't. >> How often have we have we been here guys's house for a month? >> No. >> Do you see that involvement? >> Because you personally >> No, it's helping hands is you have to be careful. When you're a parent or a guardian of a child with 100% legal, you're able to get that, right? >> But it can't be it can't be excessive. >> That's not excessive. >> Let me talk. Let me talk without being overwhelmed. >> Well, this is overwhelming to me. Let me talk. That's 100% legal. When it gets to the point where a child has injuries, which from what I saw, I didn't see injuries. But when we have four people who set me up including the child saying that they're >> past that point of their email what am I supposed to do when I have four people. >> Each person provided their own testimony. The details that emerged afterward raised concerns [music] about the child's environment and suggested that similar situations may have happened before. I know her. I used to work with her daughter. She's another. You guys all know her daughter, too. They're out their damn mind. She beats these kids all the time. Every day at this bus stop, she's cursing, screaming at him. She can't handle it. It's ridiculous. DCF is supposed to be involved yet. Nothing's getting done. >> These poor kids are sucking. There's no food in the house. There's all over. She's got like 89 dogs. There's everywhere. It's crazy. It's ridiculous. This morning I said, "Yo, I'm done. They're not going through this no more." But when she started that kid like that, you know, I've watched him a bunch of times on his butt. But yo, this is crazy. >> You grabbing hair. >> How old is he? >> 5 years old. He's sitting in the front seat right now. >> His name is He's a good little kid, but he's so scared. It's ridiculous. That kid is scared. >> He is scared. Look at all the doctors. >> No, he's not scared. He's not scared of scared of you. And for him to say that this kind of stuff happens every day. >> I can promise you one thing. really something. The moment I determined that there was further than punishment, you're going to get charged with everything I possibly can charge them cuz I'm not going to mess around with somebody doing that. >> I'm just saying I'm just under the impression that you're going to you're going to get away with something. >> I'm not the person that she adopted all three and it makes them all call. Come on, you're I adopted my brain. Why do you have to put these kids like this? >> Does she have someone else at home that watches the kids too? She >> Half the time she don't even come to the house in the afternoon. She's sleeping on the couch or and this and that. It's crazy. It's ridiculous that these kids got to go to this. >> So when she grabs him by the hair and started him uh like >> the lady up there on the thing, her car is over there. She was at pulling up to the stop sign as it happened. She screamed, I screamed and and then she jumped out. All three of us ran over. We grabbed the kid right away. Was it an open hand or closed hand >> him on his butt? It was open hands. When she started in in his head, she grabbed his hair and she pulling his hand and he's trying to get away. She and then she closed the hand and that's when I grabbed we grabbed the kid. I was like, "Yo, this is enough now. This is ridiculous." You know, and she starts yelling like, "No, your kid's in prison. You're a junkie. This Come on, lady. You're not too mind. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your time." >> Two passers by also shared what they had observed. >> You want a sticker? >> I want this one. >> You want a sticker, too? >> There you go, buddy. Thank you for being so brave. >> So, you were witness to this as well? >> Yes, I was in a black car at the stop sign. >> Okay. What's your name? >> You're in that. >> Okay. And then they're in the Nissan. >> Correct. >> So, I pulled and I never come this way. I was looking for a specific house of a nuisance motorcyclist because I was going to get attacked. >> I came this way and I'm stopping. The school bus will stop letting kids on and I just see her with a little boy on this side of the car by the rear passenger. and she had grabbed him by his shirt and his in her head repeatedly like three or four times. I see this gentleman confronting her going at her knocking the [ __ ] out. I jump out of my car. I'm yelling at her. He's like I didn't leave a mark on him. Whatever you're kid she was so hard in his head, you know, like a she was that kid in the head. >> And you're not familiar with this family? I have no I don't even know her cuz I never come this way specifically to avoid the school bus. >> Gotcha. All right. Thanks. >> Yes, ma'am. So, are you able to tell me what happened? What you saw? >> Um I was sitting in my car. All the kids were piling up on the bus and uh was your car parked here? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Sorry. >> It's okay. You're good. You're good. Um and he didn't want to get on the bus. Done it before. It's never gotten to this point. He's gotten on crying, but it never got to the point that I've seen. I've seen her try to like pry him out of the car but not the way she did I my kids when they need this one. That's one thing. But she had a close fist, had him on the side of the car and just where was she landing any blows? I saw him get once in the head and that's when I got out. So I don't know what in the process I cuz I had I had my babies in the car. I had to make sure they're okay. So I had to I got out and that's when they were already on their way over there and I just >> So who got over there first? Which adult got over there? >> She I believe did they got there at the same time? She was at the stop sign. >> Um but I just I I couldn't I couldn't run back up. >> Yeah. One thing making a fist. >> So yeah. So you just witnessed one actual blow? >> Yes. >> With a closed fist? >> Yes. >> I saw the the blow. That was >> All right. if you have your driver's license, we'll grab your phone number and then you guys can get out of here. We'll uh we'll take him. >> The grandmother later faced legal [music] review. Despite this, she remained calm, seemingly unaware that her method of discipline may have been too harsh. >> All right, listen. >> This is hard here, too. >> I want to ask you some more. Come over here. I want to ask you some more questions. What's your name? >> Yeah. >> I'm going to read you your rights just because everything going on here, okay? And I want to ask you some questions that pertain to this. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to have an attorney with you prior to, during, or after any questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney and desire one, the court will appoint one for you. You may stop answering at any time by refusing to answer further or by requesting to consult with your attorney. Do you understand each of these rights to explain? >> So, what do you are you charging with something like that? >> Do you understand these right to explain? >> Yes, but I'm asking a question. >> Let me ask Let me ask you this other question. With these rights in mind, are you willing to talk to me? >> I just want to know if I'm getting charged with something. >> I will explain it to you. I need you to answer these questions. I'm not going to talk to you unless you answer these questions. With these rights in mind, are you willing to talk to me? >> Not if I'm getting charged with something. >> At this point, you are being placed under >> Okay, I will talk to you. >> We're past that. >> No, I will talk to you. I will talk to you. >> Turn around. Do not go like you're crying. I have arthritis. >> Yeah. >> Let's use two pairs. Just cramp. >> We're going to use two pairs. So, you have a little bit more. >> Actually, are you your arms are able to do like that? That's fine. >> Well, why couldn't I ask that question that way? I don't understand. >> You refuse to answer. >> I did refuse. I said I just want to know if I'm charged. I will answer your question. >> You are. You are being charged. The reason being is we have >> what now? I'm sorry. You have four people including the child saying that you you physically closed you closed your fist. >> I did not close my fist. >> You want me to explain it to you or No, >> I didn't, sir. I have zero tolerance for this kind of [ __ ] All right, put your hands together. >> This poor kid. >> This poor kid. They're under counseling and I can explain that to you. >> All right. You You are a excuse for a grand. >> You sure are. >> You have no idea. >> You sure are. >> You're right. I don't. And I quite frankly I don't want I don't want to know the rest. All right, we'll figure that out. >> Do you have anything on you? >> Sandals. >> Just sandals. You don't have anything on your person? >> No. >> Where your car keys at? >> They're in In my pocket. >> In your pocketbook? >> Yeah. You have a phone in your hot tub? >> Yes. >> I lose in your car. >> How do you get in here? >> How do I How do you get in here? How do you get in? >> Yeah. All right. Just one second. Hold on. >> Hey, Jenkins. >> Can you uh search for real? All right. Have a good day. >> You're going to get your bag and take you to school. Got to go to school. >> You have gloves on in here. >> Real smart, right? >> Talk to you later. >> All right. Just face the car. >> You'll pay bae. You'll pay baby. All right, we know what a you are, boy. >> I'm talking. >> You know, exactly. You have a six-year-old little boy that that you need to make a positive impact on. And that talking is not really worth. >> It doesn't matter. Go stand over there because I don't want to do this in front of your grandson. >> But the more >> I think you guys did it, ma'am. He's the one who just came over all this. He just popped on me. You have pockets? You want to wear on? I have a ladder. All right. You're going to go to go with your butt first and just sit in and then bring your legs in. Okay. >> Wait a minute. I can't do that. Cops. I can't do it. Hold on. >> Hold on. I really can't do this. Wait a minute. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Oh, I know. I can't get in. I >> You're almost My lights don't go right. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. There you go. >> All right, you all set. Do >> you sit on your hands? Is what you do? >> Yeah. >> You can try to get them out from underneath you. >> I really can't. >> Or you can sit long ways. It's up to you. >> There you go. All right. >> She was charged with child [music] abuse and placed under government supervision. Under Florida law, she could face up to 5 years in prison or probation along with a $5,000 fine. Disciplinary actions that [music] go too far can leave children feeling anxious, uncertain, and less trusting of adults. That's why emotional control, understanding, and patient guidance are essential foundations for healthy child development. If you think a 2-year-old walking alone on the fourth floor is risky, take a look at this child. She was also holding items that could have caused risk. You left a 2-year-old by herself and you went to the store and then we found her on the fourth floor just wandering with a joint and and lighter. >> On December 16th, 2024, Florida officers were called to a hotel after reports of a 2-year-old found alone on the building's fourth floor. The child was only wearing a diaper and carrying several items whose purpose was unclear. At the scene, officers began verifying her family situation and her mother's residence. You don't know where her mom say? >> No. >> So, how do you know her? >> This is This is my little cousin. She was just in the hallway. >> But you don't know where her mom say? Come on. Put your feet in. >> And how long was it? >> I just got here. So, I just seen her in the hallway >> cuz it's uh like 3:10. So, maybe like 3:00. >> Yeah. Put your feet in. >> Do you have you ever seen this little girl before? >> Put your feet in. >> Oh, yeah. We found this in the baby hand. >> Oh, we saw this in the baby hand. >> Mhm. >> Does she live on the first floor? At least you know. >> No, I don't know. >> You don't know? You've never been around? So, you went in the hallway and just saw her there. She came here. >> The baby was upstairs. >> Upstairs. What floor? >> I think in the fourth floor of the other building >> in the north building. >> Yeah. Over there. that 45 military. >> Do you have her cousins on a phone number? >> Oh, I don't have my phone. That's That's [ __ ] that I didn't know. >> You don't know about hard either, right? >> No. >> Are you looking for somebody? The 2-year-old. Oh, there we go. Your mom. >> Oh, that's my sister. >> Huh? >> That's my sister. >> All right. >> Who's your sister? >> The baby's your sister. >> That's what I'm saying. They found her on the fourth floor by herself wandering the hallway. She don't stop. She That's why my mind does she. >> That's what I'm saying. Where's her? >> I don't know. I don't believe I don't talk to my mom. >> You live here? >> Yeah. >> So, where's the mom? >> Huh? >> Where's the mom? Mom? >> Yeah. >> I don't know. >> So, who's watching the baby? >> I don't know. >> But you live here? Yeah. With you. >> Was the baby with you? >> Wait a minute. >> Was the baby with you? >> No. Some lady brought the baby. Some lady. >> Who was the baby with? >> That's what we don't know. >> The mom to you. >> Huh? >> What's the mom to you? >> Uh, she my niece. >> Your niece. What's her name? >> Eric. >> But she does not stay here. >> No. >> So why is her address here? Her address for the building states that she lives here. Come up there. >> So they found a little baby on the fourth floor. >> Yeah, that lady is some big old tall lady, 5 little girl, but on the floor floor with a half a joint and a light. >> So she brought her down here to my house cuz she know >> Yeah, I understand that. Yeah, I understand that. We had a baby here. We're trying to find the mom. >> Do you know Do you know the address on the fourth floor that the mom stay? No. The address somewhere else in this building the mom. >> Do you know the mom? Huh? The mom is there. >> That's your niece. >> That's my niece. We're freezing like this. >> Freezy. >> Are you guys missing a child? >> Uh-uh. >> Okay. >> 1110 to 11:14 live there. >> Uh Adam going live? >> No. >> So her mother does not live here. >> No. >> All right. >> Yeah. What's up? No. >> Oh, yeah. We're going to have we're going to have to find >> my mother. What is her mother? >> They be visiting. >> So, you mean you want to come? If you want to come look in the other building, >> I don't talk to my mom. She would have been at my house to my home. I don't talk to my mom. >> So, they supposed to be at 44 in the other building. >> That's who they mother. >> Okay. And the mom's name is Erica. >> We're looking for Erica. >> I have the mother of his child. >> Erica. >> So, we're looking for Erica. >> And you don't know what address? >> She gave her. >> When the mother returned, she argued with the officers, stating that she had asked a neighbor to watch her child, seemingly trying to explain her lapse in supervision. >> My baby. >> Is your name Erica? >> Your baby was wandering the whole building by itself. Who did you leave the baby in custody of? >> Somebody called, bro. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Wait. Wait. Wait a minute. >> We're not doing that. We're not doing that. >> All right. Let me talk to you. >> You're mom, right? Yeah. >> All right. Let me talk to you. >> You got you got ID on you. >> Who did you leave the baby? >> Um I had went to the store and they come right back. She was in the house. I've been gone 5 minutes. Who the who was in the house? >> Nobody. So, you left a 2year-old. >> She was asleep. >> No. No. Listen, >> I understand. >> You left a 2-year-old by herself while you went to the store. Why didn't you tell anybody? You have family downstairs. >> I had told I not neighbor. I told her we keep an eye on her. >> All right. We're going to have a big issue. All right. >> You left a 2year-old by herself and you went to the store and then we found her on the fourth floor just wandering with a joint and a and a lighter. Do you not see a big issue in that? Yeah, but the joint was last month. >> Does it matter? You left a 2year-old in her house by herself. Do you not see the issue in that? >> Yeah. >> I already know my birthday. >> He's You caught him? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Tell him we're probably going to need a a detective locker. >> You have ID in there? >> Yeah, I got it. Hey, hold on. Who's that? When they cross the street when they cross the house. >> Did Did you talk to her and tell her to come over to the house? >> Yes, I did. >> So, was there somebody with your daughter in the house when you left the house? >> You didn't just say that. >> I said I left her with this lady before cross the hall. >> No. No. You said I I left her cuz she was sleeping by. I knocked the door. I said they told you I went to the store and watch her right. >> No, no, no. That's not the You can't do that. If she didn't come to your house and say, "Okay, I'm going to watch your daughter." You can't just say, "Hey, I'm leaving the house. My daughter's in the room." And then what? You don't know if she went over or not. What if someone else went enter the house? >> You see what I'm saying? >> What's happening? >> Uh, we're just talking to our sergeant and see how he wants to go about it. >> When you first interacted with the child, what happened? >> So, I just got What time is it? >> 3:39. >> Okay. I got here around like 3:00, like 3 something. I came to visit one of my cousins and we were just talking. Then somebody came and knocked on the door. >> What apartment were you at? On the first floor. >> Mhm. >> And someone came and knocked on the door and said what? >> Um that the baby had her hand. >> Describe the >> uh weed. I love blunt. So >> how did you know it was a blunt? >> Since the girl the lady had seven. >> Okay. The mother was charged with child and child endangerment. Under Florida law, she could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 [music] fine. Protecting young children cannot be left to chance or informal arrangements. It is the full responsibility of adults to ensure their safety. You might be surprised by the problem this mother is referring to. >> I've never had a problem. I've been doing this 2 years. I have never had a problem. >> So, you're saying you regularly leave them in the car? On May 21st, 2024, officers were called to a hospital parking lot in Ohio after an employee noticed two young children left unattended in a car. When they arrived, the mother had not yet returned. Shortly after, she came to the station and explained that she had stepped away briefly to deliver food. >> I'll clean that up. >> Okay. >> Yeah, they keep a toy. >> No worries. >> All right, let's have a seat. >> So, what happened today? So I went to to deliver food to the Cleveland Clinic. Um I got there, I parked in the front next to the Bible and um the guy, the door greeter guy. So I rolled my windows down. I kept the air on. I went down to my car four times within the 10 minutes that I was there because I had to keep bringing like food up to the second floor and then there was a window upstairs that looked down on my car. So I twice I looked. So, the last time I was up there, um, well, actually, let me backtrack. So, the second time I went down for food, this nurse, she said, "I'll just stand here by your car because I see your kids are in the car." And I said, "You don't have to do that. I mean, I appreciate, but you don't have to do that. Like, I can see them when I go up cuz I'm right by the window." And I said, "Um, the valet guys right there." I said, "They're fine." But, okay. So then the last time I went up, this lady came, this nurse, and she said, "I just want to let you know that lady that said she was going to stand by your car." She said, "They're going to call the cops on you if you don't hurry up and go downstairs." And I was like, "Okay." So then I I I look out the window. I see there's a man standing by the car this time, which what I was just looking 2 minutes ago. And so I'm like, "What the hell?" So I I walked down. Took me like 30 seconds to walk down. And I said, "Can you please get away from my car? I don't know anybody in my car. And he said, "Well, you know, it's illegal to leave your kids in the car." And I said, "I was told by Lakewood Police Department that you can be within 25 ft of your vehicle as long as you know you can see your kids and it's not a problem." I heard another lady from Cleveland Clinic calling the cops. And I said, "I don't think I've done anything wrong. So, I'm going to call." So, I called West and she's like, "Well, you know, I don't know if it's illegal or not, but you still shouldn't do it." And I said, "Okay, well, I had to bring the food and drop it off." So, I said, I'm just going to come down here because maybe I'm misinformed. Maybe like would misinformed me. Maybe I I don't know, but I'm pretty angry because there was like three or four people by my car acting like I just left my kids. >> Let me ask you this. So, the windows were down. >> Mhm. >> The car was running. >> The air was on. >> The air was on, which means the engine was on or >> Yes. Okay. Let me >> Well, hold on. >> Change that. >> Let him talk. >> Well, it was on for half the time basically because >> Okay. Were the keys in the car? Yes, >> she shut it off. >> Yeah, she shut the car off climb into the front. >> She got out of her seat belt. Yeah, I saw her get out of her seat belt to get from the the first floor to whatever floor you were delivering on. >> Yeah, I took the elevator. Could you see them when you were in the elevator? >> Not in the elevator. No. When I walked past by the window when I left the elevator. So, there was like a 60-second period each time. Do you think that's a problem since the kid the kids like one of them could climb from the back seat to the front seat? Now, here's I didn't mean to interrupt you. >> So, here No, you're not at all. Windows are down. Kids are in there. Bunch of people come up to the car. Correct. >> Yeah. >> What would have stopped any of them from getting into the car, the running car, and driving away with your kids? >> Well, I assume the valet guy and the nurse that said, >> "Do you know them?" >> No, I didn't know them. I had talked to them for like 30 seconds or I talked to the nurse for like a couple minutes because she >> But this was already after you left the car. >> Yes. >> And then I had come back. >> Yes. >> What for the children? >> Not 100% safe, but I didn't think that it would be detrimental. I guess like >> would it have been detrimental if the kids crawled out of the window into a parking lot, a busy parking lot. There's a lot of cars around. They walked between cars. Someone the kid could have walked out. Someone might not have been able to see him. Would that have been detrimental? Detrimental? >> Yeah, it would. Yes. And in that case, I would have called the police. >> The mother's complacency stemmed from previous occasions when leaving her children in the car had seemed to go smoothly. Her insistence that it posed no problem raise concerns about the potential for this behavior to happen again. >> Then we're reacting to something that you created. Right. >> Okay. >> Right. Like this could be like we don't have to do all that if you just either find someone to watch the kids while you're working or you got to figure it out. You had the kids, right? >> Well, normally they come with me. I've never had a problem. I've been doing this 2 years. I have never had a problem. >> So, you're saying you regularly leave them in the car? >> My friend normally comes with me. My friend Michaela. She normally comes, but you know, I didn't want to bother her. I have never had a problem with my kids in the car. He cannot get out of his seat at all because he is still in, you know, the car seat. I strap her in, but she can get out of her car seat. So, >> okay. What if she What if she gets up in the front? Like, we know that she can do that and she gets it into drive. So, does that >> Yes, it would be a problem, but I have never She can't reach the pedal. >> Okay. She just puts it in reverse or puts it in drive or even in neutral. It's going to go rolling down the parking lot. >> But she can't do that. My car is not easy to do that. >> So, you don't see any problems with anything? >> No, I I totally see that. >> Okay. What's his name? What's his name? Here's what what's going to happen. This is definitely a child in >> But I'm trying. Just just listen to me, okay? For both of the children. All right? So, with that goes a report. There's going to be criminal charges for this. >> What I'm asking just with me on this because >> listen, listen to me. Listen to me. Whether you came up here or not, you're you coming up here was a reaction to other people's reactions of seeing your kids left in the car. >> No, I hear me through. I want to know. >> Well, I'm telling you, you're not you're not okay. [snorts] So, what you did was very dangerous for your kids. I mean, we get it's not safe for a dog to be left in a car, let alone two children. Just just could you finish? Could you let me? It doesn't matter cuz there's points in times where you could couldn't see your children. They're sitting there in a running car with the windows down, keys in the car with strangers who are walking up to the car. A lot of things can happen >> and I saw that and I'm >> but it's still a situation that you created. Okay. >> All right. So, what's going to happen is you're taking a report for a child. >> There's going to be some charges that are going to be filed. Okay. Okay. We're also going to have to contact children services. You live in Lraine? >> I live in >> Lraine County. Okay. So, we're going to have to >> Is there anybody from I'm telling you? >> No, there's not. >> I don't have anybody else for these kids. Like, I'm their mom and I know that I shouldn't have left them for 60 seconds here and there, but I I didn't intentionally try to them and I would not ever try to put them >> We can't We cannot ignore this. >> But I don't feel like it was extreme. And I'm trying to do >> what would have been extreme. So what would have been extreme? Your kids would have >> if I would have left them for a long period of time. I was only gone and I was watching them while I was gone for 10 minutes top. The nurse even told me that the lady was going to call the cops on because they know that I kept checking on my kids. I told them I said I have to hurry. My kids are downstairs. Here's the food. I'm telling you I'm I'm begging you. I know that. >> Listen, our hands are tied when especially when it comes to situations like this. Our hands are tied. We have to report this. We have to take a report and at the same point in time there's going to be criminal charges with this. >> Police handled the situation humanely without separating the children from their mother. However, this did not exempt her from legal consequences. >> Okay. >> To do that. >> Well, I know that. >> Let's go back to what let's go back to what I said. There's certain things where our hands are tied. This is one of them. >> But it's not. Your hands are not tied. >> No. Yes. Yes. Our hands are tied. You're not telling me if my hands are tied or not. I am telling you that >> I will give this job up. I'm telling you everything to me. >> I understand that. I understand that. And I understand that you're trying to take care of your children by working. But this situation, it's there. We can't ignore it. >> It hold on a second. It has to be addressed. >> And I'm addressing it. I'm >> It has It has to be It has to be addressed by policy and procedure and by law. That's what we're going to have to do. >> But I don't I don't feel like I broke the law because Then if you then if you don't hold on a second if you don't feel like you broke the law there's recourse in court. >> But this is a huge deal. This is it is a huge deal. >> This is a very lives because I left them for 60 seconds. >> You didn't leave them for 60 seconds. >> Twice I was in the elevator. Okay. Three times I was in the elevator for 60 seconds. Why couldn't they have come with me? >> I'm I can lose my children over this because I made one mistake. I don't think you're going to lose your children this job right now. >> I think you need No, I I think you need some to take some classes and you need to understand. So, what we're going to do today, you're going to be allowed to leave with your children. Okay. We're going to do a report and you are going to be rece you're getting charged with child. You go to court and they're probably going to have you're going to receive a call from 696 kids. They're going to come and check on the welfare of the children. That's what's going to happen. We're not arresting you today. They're they're grandmothers. We're at Children's Services. We just saw them yesterday. >> I'm not letting them take my kids from me. >> We didn't say we are. >> I'm not. >> We're not taking your kids from you. You [snorts] need to address this properly. >> But you don't have to address it through the court. I came up here. I came up here as a good parent. >> Answer him and and give give the last name, please. >> I did. Children, >> do you want to go down right now? >> All right, then. Calm down for your children. Act like an adult. >> I do. >> What's Anony's phone number? >> I don't know. >> And that's not appropriate language in front of your children. Here's the here's the reason. >> Swearing. Everybody swears. >> It's not. >> Everybody swears. >> Do you want to give a state give a written statement of uh the events today? Okay. >> Which car is yours? >> The Ford Focus. Right. Call me back as soon as possible. >> What's that? >> Not yet. >> And it's urgent. >> I got it. >> Chris R Y S T I E L. >> Uh, no. It's going to be a new case. >> Yes, but it's very urgent. I'm at the police station, so if you can have them call me as soon as possible. >> Thanks. >> What's an address for you? >> Okay. All right. So, like you explained, we're going to call We have to call children services. >> There's going to be charges that are going to get sent to you in the mail with a court date. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Do you have any questions? >> No. >> All right. make better choices. >> The mother was charged with child and a first-degree misdemeanor. Under Ohio law, she could face up to 6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine. This story serves as a reminder for parents to proactively choose safer alternatives, asking for help from relatives or friends [music] or temporarily postponing tasks rather than risking their children's safety. The backseat of that car didn't just hold a child. It was also a test of adult alertness, responsibility, and conscience. >> At this time, you are being placed under arrest driving under the influence of alcohol, chemical, or controlled substance. >> On April 1st, 2023, officers received a report from the public at a fast food restaurant in North Lake, Florida, regarding a mother showing signs of unsafe behavior while in her car. The car remained parked in the lot for about 10 minutes with a baby in the back seat. Upon arrival, officers found the mother inside the vehicle, refusing to provide personal information and repeatedly referencing a relative as the vehicle's owner. >> Hi, how are you? >> Good. >> Is everything okay? >> Yeah. No, my daughter I'm just feeding her chicken nuggets. She's throwing all her food. >> I guess someone was concerned about you. I'm sorry. Did I make you drop that? >> Oh, no. No. My daughter just 28. >> No, my dad works right there across right papa golf 931. Papa is a white Chevy. Yeah, I guess someone called and they were concerned about you. Oh, >> I don't know exactly why. >> No. Oh, I was on the phone and when I was in the drive-thru with her dad, >> but um No, everything's good. >> Okay. Just being a baby. >> Do you have your ID on you real quick? >> Um I don't. I'm just off my dad's He's just walking over here. >> I'm just waiting on my dad. >> Okay. Do you have your ID on you real quick? >> I don't have my ID on me. >> No. What's Do you have a driver's license? >> No. My dad's He's walking over here right now. >> But you were driving though. My dad. >> Okay. Can What did you take? Did you take something? No. You're acting really weird. >> No, I was just feeding my baby food and she's throwing it out the car. Okay. >> What's your uh first name? >> Jennifer. >> Can you spell it for me? >> Yes. J E N I F E R. >> What's your middle initial? >> M. >> Can you spell your last name for me? >> Yes. Consolino. C O N S O. >> S O >> S O. >> Okay. >> L I >> L I >> N O. >> N O. Okay. What's your date of birth, Jennifer? 91085. >> Okay. Did you um go through the drive-thru and then you parked here to feed her? >> Um I was Yes, I did go through the drivethrough. >> Do you know that this tag doesn't come back to a car? >> Um it's Well, it's my dad. He works there. This is >> Yeah, but you're driving it. I don't care about your dad. You're driving the car, right? >> I I just parked. >> How old are you? >> I'm 37. >> You're an adult. You're driving the car. I don't care about your dad. >> Okay. Well, I'm sorry. My dad My dad just >> 14. Yeah, >> it's he just >> he just works right over there and he was he just said, "Well, why don't you just go through the drive-thru real quick? I'll be right back." >> Where's he at now? >> He's over there. He had to talk to a customer. I can call him right now. >> No, I don't need him here. You're an adult. Why don't you bother calling him? Go ahead and feed your daughter. Just give us a second. I'll be right back with you. Okay. Alpha, put a name in the notes. We get 95, please. >> Jennifer, >> you have a Florida driver's license? >> I I do. I did have a Florida driver's license. It's being moved right now. >> Okay. Well, you don't have one in any other state. Just Florida, right? >> Yes. Just the state. >> All right. You can go back to I'm sorry. You can go back to your daughter. >> Yes. She's grabbing her drink. >> Okay. There is a message for you. >> FCIC 2000 confirm flight. Florida Hall George 93 1 2000 confirm flight. Call George 93. >> I got a real witness. You saw who it was, right? The girl with the dark shirt on. >> She's an employee. >> Yeah. So, I'm going to start my thing with her. >> Hyundai. >> When I when I'm done, if I make the 15, can you get me the the RP's um 14? >> Yes. Um she's revoked as well. So, she told me she's revoked and that's on a signed tag. So, >> did you put the um did you put this into the notes? >> Yeah, they're going to 95 right now. Here we go. Just came back. Extensive 57. >> Let me take a look. >> I think that's what it's going to be. If it's anything, it's >> Let me take a look online real quick. >> The explanations she provided did little to clarify the situation as her behavior indicated she was not in a suitable state to continue driving. Officers took the necessary steps to ensure public safety. >> I'm trying to get the straw off for her. >> Sorry about this. I I was waiting to pick him up. >> Roll that down. Are you >> No, I was getting >> Are you going over there with it? Okay. I was just going to say I know what you're doing. I thought you were throwing trash away. You don't >> Oh, no, no, no. This is our dinner with a customer. >> Whose car is this? >> My Okay. So, um it's a dealer car. My dad using it right now cuz he's thinking about buying it and he had to go talk to um a customer at work or somebody at work. I I'm not sure who he had to talk to. He's always there. But so he's he works right over there in Ableton's. He's been there for um >> Where do you Where do you live? >> I live with my parents. >> Where at? Um 1011 Sanctuary Cove Drive. That's in North Palm Beach. Drive. You're going to mess. I just I I I know I shouldn't have went through the drive. I didn't I honestly I I didn't think I would get >> Well, that's the least of our worries is the driver's license thing. Okay. This is Officer Flink. He's going to ask you some questions and go from there. Okay. >> Well, Seleno, so if you would go and place the bag on the on the car, I got to talk to you over there. >> The bag of food. Sure. >> Yes. >> What's your daughter's name? >> Aliana. >> Aliana. Okay. Okay. Officer Mike is going to keep an eye on her. Okay. Sure. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> What are you doing? >> No, no, no. Hang on in there. Hang on in there. You hungry? >> Are you hungry? >> High five. >> High five. >> No, I didn't take anything besides. >> You want a French fry? >> French fry. >> I know. I know. Hold on. She'll be right back. Mommy, be right back. >> Alcohol. >> What? You're about to have a kid. >> Well, DUI goes far beyond >> deal with that. >> DUI goes far beyond alcohol. You understand that, right? The DUI can't be as well. It could be prescription medication. It can be chemical substances. It can be an array of different things. Okay? So, I have a profound fear that you are driving under the influence. And I want I would like to participate in the roadside exercises by concern. >> Okay. >> Are you willing to do that? >> Yes. >> Do you have any condition by glasses? >> I wear glasses. >> Besides that, >> no, not today. >> Are you able to give her a French fry? Start crying. And then lastly, can we count to 30? >> Have to set the pretext for the exercise. Okay. So, if you would go and stand right here and face me. >> Bring your feet together. Hands at your sides. At your sides. There you go. You see this red light? >> You're going to follow him with your eyes only. You're keeping your head still. Do you understand? >> My eyes still. Heat. Heat. This is hard cuz it's out of my >> as far as you can go. up and down. >> Now it's going up. Good. >> You want to look up and down? >> Yep. Keep your hands on your side. >> All right. Now, I'm going to make some I'm going to turn the light off now, but follow the tip of the light. I'm going to make some circles around your face. Follow with your eyes only. I'm going to come in real close to the bridge of your nose. Allow your eyes to cross. Okay. >> Okay. To the bridge of your nose. >> Yep. Just allow your eyes to cross. Just keep focusing on this. >> There's basically no light. >> Yep. Just keep focusing on this clear part. Keep focusing. >> One more time. [screaming] >> All right. Give me one second. >> Oh, my pumpkin. She's so close to me. >> I guess she doesn't like McDonald's, huh? >> No, she does like McDonald's. But I was She's She's like so misindependent. She likes to do the whole chicken nugget and I'm like, Aliana, you're going to on a whole one. So, >> yeah, that's what I would be afraid of with chicken nuggets. >> All right, man. Go on the side along. Place your left foot on the line for me. >> Okay. Legion. So, right. >> Okay. So, that's your left. Yep. Now, bring your right foot in front. Heel touching toe just like I'm doing. >> Arms at your sides. Make sure your heel and toe are touching. >> Okay. >> Arms at your sides. >> It's hard for anybody to do anything. I got 35 lbs of gear on at the beginning this whole time. All right. Now, hold that position. If you step out of the position, get back into it. Don't start until I tell you to. When I tell you to begin, I want you to take nine heel to toe steps just like this. One, two, three. Once you get to your ninth step, your feet are going to end up like this. Move your front foot where it's at. Take a series of small steps to turn around. You're going to take nine little steps back. All right. It's important that once you start, you don't stop. Keep your arms down at your sides. Your arms down at your sides. So, >> keep your arms down at your sides. >> You cannot understand my feet properly. >> You count out loud. >> Do you have any questions about what you need to do? >> Just when I bring my foot forward, just don't do it. I'm going to I'll show you. Don't do it. Get back into the position. You can't you can't start it without me telling you. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. >> So, when you step, it's heel to toe. Just like this. Watch my feet. Heel to toe. No spaces or gaps. >> You understand? >> Can I do it without the sandals? Is it? >> Yeah, sure. The sandals are a little hard to do with. So go ahead and do your left foot on the line, then your right foot in front, heel touching toes, arms at your sides, elbows at your sides. Do you understand all the instructions I provided you? >> Yes, sir. >> All right, go ahead and begin. Um, sorry, I forgot to count. I just want to go to the end of the tape. Is that okay? It's up to you. >> I just didn't uh I didn't count. So, one, two, three, four. >> Continue the exercise as instruction. >> Okay. But I did that right at the end. Just around the circle. >> Continue. >> And now do the opposite foot first or >> however your feet end up. >> Okay. >> Good. 3 4 5 6 7 >> All right, for this next exercise, give me the one leg stand. Go ahead and get into the last one. >> All right, so if you would go and stand right here for me. >> The signs observed during the interaction reinforce the assessment that the mother was not fit to operate the vehicle at that time. either foot approximately 6 in off the ground about the height facility. While you're doing that, you're going to keep both feet straight and you're going to point the toes of your raised foot out at me. You're going to look down your race foot. You're going to count out loud 1,00 1,002 1,003 and so on until I tell you to stop. If you place your foot down during the 30 seconds, pick it back up and continue where you left off. It's going to go like this. Watch me. Don't do it. Just watch. 1,001 1,002 1,003 1,004 1,005 1,006. That's all until I tell you to stop. Notice both of my knees are straight. My toes are pointed out. My hands are at my sides. And I'm looking down. This is all you have to do for 30 seconds. >> Okay. Turn 30. >> For 30 seconds. So, I'm going to time it in 30 seconds. I just keep counting until I tell you to stop. >> Do you have any questions? >> Nope. Doesn't matter which one or not. >> It's only one foot on your foot of your choice. >> All right. Go ahead and begin. >> 1,002 1,003 1,0004 1,50067 1,008 1,009 100,000 10 Oh yeah. 30 1,23 1 >> All right, for this next exercise, you place your foot down. You said you know your left from your right. So, keep your feet together. Point your fingers out like this and bring them down to the sides of your pants. All right. Now, hold that position. Don't start until Don't start until I tell you to. Okay. When I tell you to begin, you're going to tilt your head back and you're going to close your eyes. I'm going to give you a series of commands of left and right. When I say left, you're going to extend your left hand out, touch the tip of your finger to the tip of your nose, and bring it back down. When I say right, you're going to do the same thing. Important that you keep your head tilted and your eyes closed the entire time. And as soon as you touch your nose, bring your hand back down. >> Okay? >> Do you have any questions? >> Hands out like this. Head tilted back, eyes closed, and right here. >> And these are the tips of your fingers, and this is the tip of your nose. Okay? So, go ahead and bring your hands back out like this down to your sides. >> Okay? >> All right. All right. Do you have any other questions? You understand what you got to do? All right. Go ahead and begin. Left. Bring it back down. Right. Bring it back down. Go ahead and tilt your head up. Left. Bring it back down. Right. Bring it back down. Right. Bring it back down. Black. Bring it back down. Hold on. All right. For this last exercise, this is going to be the estimation of 30 seconds. Okay. >> Cover one or Katie. >> No, I'm sorry. Not cover one. >> Is uh Matt just going to >> This going to be the estimation of 30 seconds. Okay. Said you can count to 30, right? Okay. So, go ahead and bring your keep your feet together. Bring your hands back to your sides. To your sides. All right. When I tell you to begin, you're going to tilt your head back and you're going to close your eyes. You okay? >> Wow. >> You're going to tilt your head back and you're going to close your eyes and silently in your mind, you're going to imagine 30 seconds going by. >> Okay? >> However you want to count silently. Once you believe 30 seconds are up, open your eyes and say, "Stop." That's all there is to it. >> So, I just tilt my head back and count to 30. >> Tilt your head back, close your eyes, count to 30, however long you think 30 seconds is. Once you believe the 30 seconds are up, just open your eyes and say stop. >> Okay? >> If you have any questions, all right, go ahead and tilt your head back, close your eyes, and begin. >> Stop. >> That was 18 seconds. >> At this time, you are being placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, chemical, or controlled substance. Stop. >> Stop. Come on, man. I was I I mean, my Can you call my dad? He's like, >> "Yes, we're going to take care of it because we don't we want to turn the kid over to somebody responsible." >> Oh my god. Please. I I didn't do anything wrong. >> You drove under the influence with a child in the car. >> Let's do this first and then we'll we'll figure everything out. Okay. >> All right. So, go ahead and put your uh put these these shoes back on for me. >> The immediate priority was to locate a relative to safely take custody of the child. Despite the seriousness of the situation, officers work to return the child to the family rather than involving protective services more extensively. >> She's a feeding tube. >> Okay, that's that is on her stomach. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I'm going to go and put you in my car while we wait for a female to come and then we're going to get the information out. >> What? You got a feeding tube and [ __ ] Check the baby out. >> Okay. All I did was just count. I didn't count one Mississippi. >> Well, that was that was just one exercise. Forgot about all the other ones. So, go ahead and take a seat. Go ahead and take a seat. I'm put the window down. You're going to be able to see your baby the whole time. Okay. Just take a seat and then he's got your phone and we're going to we're going to figure out your old man's phone number. So, screw your legs in. >> You got to close the door. Move your foot. I'm going to put the window down. Move your foot. Call 15. >> Uh, Cody did. >> Does he have Face ID? >> Yeah, I'll call my >> What's your What's your passcode? This is not going to work cuz the bars. >> It's 085 21. >> That's not enough numbers. What was it? >> 08 8521. Sorry. I don't know. >> Is this it right here? Dad. Daddy or dad? >> Dad. Daddy or dad. This one? Yes. Okay. What's his first name? >> James. >> James. >> Am I going to be able to get out of jail? >> Yeah. >> This is crazy. I didn't do anything like I >> All right. So, let me talk to him first and then I'll let you talk to him. Okay. What's his name again? >> James Consolina. >> Hello. >> Hi, James. My name's Officer Kaggel. I'm with the city of Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. >> Yes. >> Um, I just wanted to I'm here with your daughter, Jennifer. She's okay and everything like that. She's not or anything, but she is going to jail for driving under the influence. So, I wanted to call you so that we can turn this child over to you if that's okay. >> Maybe. >> Okay. We're at um the McDonald's at North Lake and Rome. Okay. Yeah, that's where we're going to be at. So, just what kind of car are you coming in? >> I'm going to be driving. I'm not sure. All right. Okay. Do you want to talk to her real quick? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. She's right here. You're on speaker phone. >> Hey, Dad. I went I just was waiting for you and I went through the drive-thru and I guess somebody in the drive-thru called and said something, but they're in your car right now. I got with the baby. So, I don't know. I I mean, and I did all the sobriety tests. I cooperated. I didn't >> I won't kiss. >> All right. Just um I I need um I guess I'll have a bond. So, can you please bond me out? >> I don't know what I can do. >> Well, I Please, Dad. >> I don't know where the money's going to go. >> Well, I have my my money. I have my money in my car. >> Have the bonds guy call me. >> Okay. >> All right. All right. We'll be there in about 10 minutes. >> All right. >> All right, James. I I appreciate it. Just so you're aware, too, like there's no crash or anything. The the baby's okay. She's okay. I guess like like she said that she was going through the drive-thru, and I guess based on >> I work right next door. I can just leave you with that car over there and just uh Okay. Whenever you know in a few minutes. >> All right. Thanks, James. All right. Bye. We're going to bring your phone with you. Okay. >> Sound good? >> Yeah. >> Just hang hang tight back there. And >> I mean, like, what are they being charged with? >> Driving under the influence. And you shouldn't be driving without a license either. >> But I know. It's just >> What do they re What do they revoke it for? >> Your license? >> Um for Well, just tickets and stuff like that. And it just This is really going to screw me now. I can't now. I'm not going to be able to get it for a really long time. >> Well, that's something you're going to have to figure out, okay? But one step at a time. All right. >> I I know. I know. >> However, before the case was closed, another detail involving a handbag added further complexity to the situation. >> Hey, her uh her dad's on the way. He'd be here in like 10:00. Okay. >> You come and check her out. >> No, she has like Look at her eyes. >> I think that just might be a symptom. I just want to make sure that >> using ball she's pregnant. [music] >> Yes. >> Hello. >> Hello. Did I call you back? >> Yeah. Do you mean to call me or >> Yeah. No. Yeah. I just left the phone in my pocket. >> Okay. All right. We'll see you in a second. >> All right. Did you uh were you able to get the baby's 14 for mom? Just name and date of birth. >> No, I'll get it. Um, which one was the color again? I got you. >> Well, the girl with the the white girl with the dark hair. >> All right, I'll go get that real quick. >> Officers recorded the identities of all parties involved, including the mother, the child, and the store employee who made the call. Are you the one that called? >> Yeah. >> Can I just get your uh Do you have your driver's license on you at all? >> Or ID? >> If you don't, I'll just grab your name. >> The picture. >> No, I don't. I just need your name cuz you're >> You're a real witness. >> Stephanie. >> Yes. >> With a ph. >> Yeah. Spell it. >> L I Y A N. Yeah, the tongue is right. >> What's your last name? >> L I N. >> A lot going on, huh? L I N O L. >> Correct. >> What is the baby's social security number? >> I have my wallet. >> Date of birth. >> Um the date of birth is October 6th, 2024. 106 21. She We have her dad's coming. taking care of her and everything, right? >> How far away? >> So, it's kind of like I can't have her signal for the baby. She's in police custody. >> So, we got to wait for dad. >> What was the uh spelling of the baby's name that you got for the first name? a little bit more. >> Thank you. >> I got no person. >> Some items in the handbag were later verified to be linked to minor legal violations. This information was shared with her father. While he remained calm, the concern in his eyes was noticeable. Heat. Heat. See this [ __ ] >> Where is it? Inside of that little thing. This this uh thing. >> Yeah. >> No, I saw a little like container. >> You got um >> you got the baby sports team. >> Yeah. I'm going to rewrite it cuz that was a little sloppy. >> Okay. You got the RP? >> Yeah. >> [ __ ] I don't have my knife. You got a knife? My car dad didn't seem surprised. >> What did he say? >> He just see he just sounded like disappointed, but he didn't sound like mad like this was wasn't the first time. Might not be. It might be in. >> It definitely wasn't alcohol. That's for sure. >> No. Think you're blue? That's it. additional charge of signal 18. Okay, I'm going to narrate for my camera. So, these items were located in this purse. These uh three rocks test positive. The way I know that it belongs to the individual is that's her name right there. That's her name right there. That's not her name, but two of the things are two out of the three are. And then she got somebody else's uh membership card here. Got a little bit of cash in there. >> Oh, >> hello. Hello. >> Yeah. Be careful. Yeah. >> The mother could have been charged with DUI, driving with a revoked license, child in and possession of controlled substances. Under Florida law, she could face two to 15 years in prison with fines up to $15,000. This situation serves as a reminder of responsibility, compassion, and the value of life. Every time we sit behind the wheel, we hold the lives of ourselves and others in our hands, especially children who are completely dependent on us. In Florida, a 7-year-old girl had to wander into a bar alone at midnight to find her mother. >> She has her phone in it, but she didn't bring her phone. Right. In the early hours of October 29th, 2023, police received an unusual call reporting that a 7-year-old girl had appeared in a bar near closing time. [music] Searching for her mother to the staff's astonishment. They immediately intervened, comforted her, and carefully took her statement. >> How you doing? I like your little pumpkin. >> Where'd you walk from? >> Um, I walked from my >> on you guys. All right. >> It's okay where you came from. Okay. You want to sit in that comfy booth with them? You want to sit with us? >> Where's your Spongebob ice cream? >> It melted. >> It melted. You let it You let them just melt all the way. >> This is Rachel. >> Awesome. >> Hi. >> Hello. >> Here to help. >> You can talk to me if you don't want to talk to them. Okay. And I We've got your apple juice and your French fries right there. Okay. And what's your >> All right. What about what's your mom's name? >> Um, her name is Veronica Rox. >> Veronica. What was the last name? >> Roxan. >> Roxan. >> Belle. >> Belle. >> And her name is Rox and her last name. >> You're awesome at this. >> Where's your mommy at? >> Sit next to me if you need to. Okay. >> You said you walked from your car. Yeah, because um I fell asleep [music] during it. Then she hasn't been there ever since cuz we got there and like 10 minutes and then and then my mom said it wouldn't be long and then she after like 5 to 10 minutes we just haven't came back. >> Okay. Where do you live at? >> Um I live uh >> Following the girl's directions, police quickly found the car and what they saw was truly horrifying. Intercept mom or catch up with mom and get the car. >> We can run address. >> You just lead us where the emergency where the car is. Okay. >> For the registered owner, >> I'm with you. Okay. >> Your mom usually you leave you in the car by yourself? >> No. >> No. >> Something important. >> Something important. >> Okay. I just want to come with you. Okay. Hold my hand. It's okay. I'm going to be really Is this your mama's car right here? Or this one? right here. >> Yeah. >> This silver one right here. Okay. >> Yeah. >> It's okay. I'm with you. Okay. You just come. I'm going to be right with you. Okay. You just hold my hand. I'm going to come with you. I'm never going to leave you alone. >> Yes. >> That's your seat. >> Yeah. >> I'm not going to leave you at all. Okay. I promise you. These guys are just helping us. Okay. You tell them anything that you feel like you need to tell them. And they found Sky. >> Oh boy. Phone. >> You found Sky. >> Phone. Yeah, there's a phone in there. >> Oh yeah. >> That light over there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Those are the keys. >> It's the keys. Okay. Do you want to give it to this night? He's going to help us out. Okay. I'm going to stay with you. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Are you okay? >> Are you worried? It's okay. It's okay. You hold my hand right here. Okay. >> I got the key right here on the windshield. >> You tell me you feel worried. Yeah. >> So, Alaska Central Intellite anything, right? >> Dear, what was the >> camera? Get on and just see us >> if the sheriff's office just Hey, can >> I know there's a blue house? Can you ask 20 if he can send somebody over to >> Fortunately, the girl was smart, cooperative, and gradually revealed what had happened earlier. >> You are so smart. >> You make me so proud. Okay, they just hang out with me. You're doing so good. Okay, these guys are just trying to help us. >> You're doing super. >> You're doing really good. Okay. >> Okay. >> You hold my hand if you want to. >> She can maybe be in any of these buildings. She walked off to one, but I can't see where because she turned the lights off. >> Okay. Has this ever happened before? >> Um, no. She never leaves the car without me. She said it's something really important. And she said it'll be a real quick, but it hasn't because it was like 5 to 10 minutes. >> Which way did you say she walked? >> I couldn't see because she turned the the lights off every single one. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But you don't remember which way she walked when she left the car? >> No. >> Okay. >> Got some words for your mom when she gets back. You're doing very good, girl. You are very smart. Very good. Okay, just hang out with me. Okay. >> So, do you remember why you came on over here with your mom? Do you remember? >> No, but it wasn't long before I found skydive land and I hear people talking. So, >> what's your mom's name? >> Veronica Bell. >> Veronica. Roxan Bell. >> Roxan Bell. >> Just hang out with me. >> Do you remember why your mom um came over here? >> No. >> No. By this time, the mother [music] was still missing. The police could only care for and reassure the girl, keeping her from sinking into fear. >> Is that truly all right over there? I'm still with the job. >> You promise? >> I promise. >> She looks just like me, but but more freckles. >> More freckles like me. >> Bravo's 10 on patrol. >> He's a lot. >> I will always go with you. Okay. I promise. >> All right. Just checking. >> Bless you. >> Thanks. >> That was a good sneeze. [laughter] You okay? Are you too cold or anything? >> No. >> No, I'm not too cold. >> You're a superstar. >> You're doing awesome, Violet. You're doing so good. You're so brave and so smart. >> She's not much taller than you. >> I'm not too much taller than you. >> It could the possible way she could have gone by either one of these problems. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Veronica, my name is Matt Salman. I'm a sergeant with the Dan Police Department. I'm out here at >> Hang with me. Okay. These guys are just trying to help us out. Okay. You're not scared, right? They're just trying to help us. >> Okay. You're doing so good. >> I was curious if if she walked in that building or these two. >> Yeah. >> You're a curious kid. I like it. I was a curious kid, too. >> Um, there weren't much people around, but I saw that spark. I thought it was just a little car, but now I can see that's a campfire. >> So, the campfire was there when you first got here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But there was only a little bit of it. >> I gotcha. Were you able to see the people around the campfire? No. >> No. >> The bus is blocking it. >> Bus is blocking it. Okie dos. >> You're doing so good. >> If she'd walk down here, she would never leave me because this she's never done anything like this before. >> But that's blocked off, so she can't go that way. >> Yeah. >> You feeling okay? >> Yeah. >> You tell us if you're feeling not okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. You would tell me, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Still got a really cool little juice box or apple juice over there. >> Yeah, >> you would tell me, right? You >> got your apple juice waiting. >> You better tell me. And these guys are just trying to help us, right? So, you tell them anything they need to know. Okay. >> She even tried to describe her mother to help the officers. >> I thought that would have been him. >> So, how long ago did this happen? >> 5 to 10 minutes. And then I found skydive to land. I heard people talking. I followed a bit and I went inside. >> You came to hang out with us, right? Because the car was off completely off minutes. Hour maybe. >> An hour. >> Maybe. >> Okay. You thinking more than an hour or less than an hour? >> No, I think right around an hour. I don't think it was a ton more than that. Right around an hour for sure. We got her some food and then it was kind of like >> Yeah, she was living good. >> What do we do? >> Good thing you called. >> Thank you. You doing good? >> Mhm. >> Okay. You want to hold my hand still? Okay. She has a purse that goes around here and it's like um to here and then she wears it right mostly around here or here. She has her phone in it but she didn't bring her phone right maybe was it like pink purple >> like long sleeved white >> long sleeve white >> sleeve white. Was she wearing pants? >> No. >> No. What was she wearing? >> She was wearing a long sleeve shirt and then she wore um she wore some shorts. or some shorts. >> Like shorts like me. >> Um yeah, >> like this. Like little shorts, tight shorts. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And a long sleeve white. >> I know when I I'll see you because she knows. >> She's really good at hide and seek. [laughter] >> You like hide and seek? >> Um sometimes. >> Sometimes. >> And even after being a she firmly said, "Mom has never abandoned me." Defending her mother. >> We'll hang out with you till we find her. Okay. >> Okay. >> I promise you. Okay. >> Do you remember what color her purse is? >> Um, it's like a really dark green with some like tannanish brown like and like this combined. And then then they she has like it's kind of like blue and and then that's it because it's like there's like squares like their rhombuses like that go this way and that's all I can really know about that person. >> Oh my goodness. You were so much smarter than me when I was seven. [laughter] >> Come on now. You are very smart. >> I never knew what my mom's job was because I didn't have time to ask it because I said wait, but she she left the car already and then she turned [snorts] the and then she didn't walk the direction that she turned the lights off. Then she walk off. >> You did everything good. You came to find us. You found me, right? Now we're best buddies, right? You remember my name. >> You do remember my name. I'm going to keep you safe. Okay. >> You doing okay? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You tell me if you need anything. Okay. >> After hours of waiting, around 6:30 a.m., the mother returned to the parking lot to pick up her child. Before the police stood a barefoot woman staggering drunk, mumbling an admission that she had left her child to go drinking. >> Okay. Um, open that as soon as >> Wait, before you send me >> given the dangerous nature of the incident, police arrested the mother on charges of child neglect. Under Florida law, this offense can carry up to 5 years in prison or probation along with fines of up to $5,000. [music] Nowadays, it's not uncommon for people, including mothers, to turn to alcohol or substances to relieve stress. But before doing so, [music] parents must consider the consequences for their children, both physically and emotionally. Parents may forget many things, but leaving their child at school just because of alcohol, the price to pay will be high. >> Is someone supposed to pick him up from school today? >> On March 21st, 2024, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma police received an urgent call from an elementary school reporting that a mother had forgotten to pick up her child. They quickly arrived at the school where a teacher was waiting and explained that the school had been waiting for over 4 hours and had made 20 calls to the mother with no response. >> Hello, Miss Sitting right here in the front office. >> I'll just get your information real quick and then we've already contacted DHS, so they're going to be There she is by the calendar. >> Not anybody that we know of. There's not anybody else in the system. Like I said, the neighbor is listed in there. I spoke to dispatch. >> There are Okay. In the past, as in like just a couple months ago, there were nannies, like teenagers, 17, 18 year olds, who were very consistently babysitting them. Obviously, I don't know that it was overnight or any of those kinds of things, but I do know that there's that relationship. >> And then the boy appeared. >> Hey, I want to introduce you to somebody. Hang on. Right here. This is officer. He's going to take you to be with Sawyer. Mama's not feeling very good, so he's getting mama checked out. Okay. But he's going to take you to hang out with Sawyer for a little while. Okay. >> You want to ride my car? >> That's fancy. >> You don't want to ride in it? What do you mean? I like that shirt. >> Wait, why do I take you to Yeah, I'm going to take you over to see Sawyer cuz your mom's not feeling too good. So, we had to get her checked out. Okay. >> Okay. >> When all attempts to reach relatives failed, the police had to take the boy home where they were met by his mother, clearly impaired. >> Charlie 302. No way. >> How big What kind of dog you got? That >> was a big bark. >> Where's your dog at? >> Hey, Joy. >> Hi there. >> Hey. Everything's okay. >> You're okay. >> Do you have a son named Jackson or Colton? >> Yeah. Do you have a son named >> Okay. Is someone supposed to pick him up from school today? Okay. Who's supposed to pick him up? >> He doesn't know time right now. Okay. >> He doesn't know time. >> Okay. >> Do you know what time it is? >> Yeah. >> So, who's supposed to pick your kid up? >> Are you serious? >> Dead serious. They're calling us. >> Okay. >> It's 4:41. Of course they're >> How much have you had to drink today? >> God. Nothing. >> Nothing. Nothing at all. >> Nothing at all. >> Okay. Even though I could smell it on you. Is there another adult here in this house? >> Are you kidding me? >> Ma'am, I wouldn't be asking these questions if I was kidding. I've been here before this exact same issue. >> No. >> Yes, I have. >> And no, >> I haven't done a training yet. >> Soon after, the officers handcuffed her, ending the [music] mother's absurd antics. >> Oh, no, no, no. You're not getting in the car until we do some fieldy test. Okay. >> Oh my god. >> Okay. Hey. Hey. Stop. Stop walking around. >> No. >> All right. You guys are >> Stop. Stop. Stop. You're intoxicated and you're in control of the child and there's nobody else here. Okay. Stop. >> Hey, listen. >> Stop. Sit down. Just sit down in the chair. >> Sit down in the chair. >> Give me your hand. It's okay. >> Give me your other hand now. >> She's okay. >> Don't pull away from me. You'll be in a lot of trouble. >> Stop. >> Get your other hand behind your back right now. Put your hand behind your back right now. >> Put your hand behind your back right now. Put your hand behind your back right now. Do it now. >> You're not listening to what I'm telling you to do. It is 4:41. >> You had to go look at the clock to tell me the time. Ma'am, >> how dare. >> And this is the second time I've dealt with you in this condition. >> How dare you? You got a 5-year-old kid crying because you don't know how to take care of yourself. That's embarrassing. Are >> you serious? >> Yes. Are you serious? That's the question. Are you serious? Have a seat. >> Yes. You're going to have a seat. We're not going to play these games. >> Yet, she kept denying being drunk despite the strong smell of alcohol and stern warnings from the police. >> Last time what happened, >> we're able to get old dad. >> Now, there's a PO in place. So, I know >> we might have to have DHS involved on this. Ask for a rapid response would be my guess. >> Let me do some investigating on that PO. >> Okay, >> kids. Smell it. Hey, so here's the deal. >> Okay. Do you have family members nearby? >> No. >> Okay. No family at all. >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Um Okay. Well, DHS is on the way out here. >> They're going to talk to you briefly. Okay. And then uh likely you're probably going to go to jail for child with me today. Okay. depend on >> why >> uh cuz your current condition uh >> what's wrong with my condition? >> You're intoxicated. >> I am not. >> That you can say that all you want, but >> I am not intoxicated. >> My car reeks of alcohol and you're inside my car. >> Absolutely not. And I can blow. Okay. >> Okay. >> I'll blow. >> You You want to blow? >> No. >> No. Stay seated. Stay seated. He'll come bring it to you. >> Don't >> Don't What? Get out of the sandbox. >> You No. You tried to get in your car earlier and drive off and that's not No, we can't do that. And then instead of listening to me, you tried to get away from me and that's not okay. >> You're being very offensive. >> Okay. >> Yeah, you're being offensive. >> Okay. >> Don't be a jerk. >> I'm not trying to be offensive and I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just giving you the facts, ma'am. Everything. >> No, I'm not. >> Okay. My child was at school 11 minutes later. No, I'm not going to blow. >> Not going to blow now. Imagine. >> No. >> You know what? See, I thought you weren't intoxicated. This will show if you're intoxicated. >> No. What do you guys think you're doing? >> Taking you to jail. >> Yeah. >> For child neglect. That's what we're doing. >> Are you kidding me? for being I mean he was at school 11 minutes later. 11 minutes. What's wrong with you, babe? >> You didn't even You didn't even know what time it was. >> I do know what time it was. 11 minutes. >> You had to go look at the clock to tell me what time it was. [snorts] >> So, chill in there for a little bit. >> Unexpectedly, the mother admitted I am an alcoholic. >> I don't know how to describe it. Wired up. I don't know. >> I'm wired. I'm mad. >> Yeah. What are you mad at? >> I'm mad at this whole situation. >> I didn't pick my kid up from school. It was 41. >> Which kid did you not pick up? >> Jackson, but he didn't walk home. >> You said it was 411. >> It's 411. Walk home. He's a walker. >> Does he usually walk home? >> Yes. See that? I'm an alcoholic. I own it. >> You ever got any help for that? >> Yes. >> But even after admitting it, she still refused to let neighbors temporarily care for her child. >> I'll just check. >> What about your neighbor, Miss Margaret here, where your kids are frequently. Is that okay or is that not okay? >> It's not okay. >> Okay. >> She's the one who did this. >> She did this. >> Yes. You did this. The school called us. >> She did not call us. I had to go over there and ask her for help. She did not call >> 411. >> I don't know where >> not not correct at all. >> Not correct. >> Walker. >> Well, they didn't let him walk because that's they don't He doesn't usually walk. Otherwise, they would have let him walk. >> You You think your kids want to live without you? That's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to get you help and get them in a safe place for the time being. Okay. We don't want to take your kids. All right. That's the last thing we want to do. You're their mother. They know you. They love you. You love them. Right. >> So the school, >> yes, >> this is what happened. This is what's happening because of the school. >> You have made some >> I missed her just sailing. >> Because you didn't make very good decisions today. Let's be honest. That's why this is happening. Okay. >> They're they're just they're principal. This is what you guys are doing on purpose. >> You can't blame this on them. You can't blame this on them. They didn't put you in this condition and tell you to do what you did. >> Okay. >> The mother was arrested and held on charges of childact facing 2 years of probation and a ban on alcohol. The boy was placed in the temporary care of a neighbor who is also a teacher at the school. Parents can make mistakes, but mistakes involving alcohol and children are never acceptable. A child's safety and future must always come first. Just a few months later, an even more shocking story unfolded in New Mexico. >> I'm warning that little girl because whoever she's with, they're either on drugs or um I know that girl was drunk when she went. >> On November 29th, 2024, police received an emergency call about a 31-year-old woman suspected of making her daughter into a breathalyzer in the car to bypass the system before driving, leading to a rollover accident in the West Mesa area of Albuquerque. Police quickly rushed to the scene where a car was nearly overturned. The mother was sitting by the roadside, but the child was nowhere to be seen. >> I don't care. Fine, but stay. >> Anybody else in the car? skirt or do >> just real quick. There was a lady in here. She's wearing black. She has a black skirt. She's Hispanic and they pulled her out. But there was another lady with her and they have a little girl and they took off walking around here. So if you see her, >> they were in their car. >> Yes. That were in here. That's what according to them. I'm worried for that little girl because whoever she's with, they're either on drugs or um I know that girl was drunk and she left. >> She's Hispanic wearing black. >> Hispanic. She's wearing black. It's a skirt with black boots. All black. Wearing long hair. black, really dark complexed. But there was another girl with a bag that has a little girl that's probably about like eight or two adult females and one that's probably about seven. I don't know where that girl is cuz she took off walking down the street somewhere. >> There's a baby girl. My baby girl. >> She was in the car. >> She was with you. Where did she go? >> They took her because they had >> no money. >> Were they with you in the car? >> She was. But were the people with you in the car? No. So it was just you and your daughter and these two people took the little girl away. What do they look like? >> And a bike >> because you owe them money. >> Yeah. >> Do you know who they are? >> So how do you owe them not money if you don't know who they are? >> Because we drug dealers. >> Okay. If somebody just kidnapped your daughter, you need to stop stalling and tell us who they are. >> The story of the seemed hardly believable to the police. >> Are you guys able to get it? >> Yeah. She literally pulled around and drove right into the pool like she did. >> Did she not the little girl in there? >> She was with not in the car, but she said her little girl's in the store. >> Little girl with her friend came in the store, grabbed sodas. As I was on the phone, I went walking towards the accident. They were walking off property. >> She's saying they her daughter cuz they also grabbed a dog or something >> cuz she said that they're dealers and that >> that she owes them money. So they took her daughter. >> But that's her right there. >> They keep going back and see >> it's a girl. She, her daughter, and the girl ran in the store cuz we were outside smoking. >> Let us know, okay? We're going to go check. >> So, the only thing the officers needed now was a trace of the child. >> What do they look like? >> What do they look like? >> Uh, they were wearing all black clothing like a little girl. >> They said they bought. So, look. So, I'm okay. I don't care if you guys have right now. Okay. Who do you buy from in this complex? The whole room number. Okay. You're all full of cuz I know all you do. I don't care about that. >> We just want the little girl. That's all we care about. >> You learn. >> They didn't say like specifically like the person. What does a bike look like? >> They just said a bicycle. >> A bicycle. They were on a bicycle. >> Sure. Like one of those. >> Yeah. Like a BMX. >> Where did you get your >> I'm not going to pin you up on this. You're not going to help me. I don't know. I'm trying to figure out what >> Okay, I've been I've been doing this job a long time. I know where somebody >> Meanwhile, the police faced a major obstacle as the mother showed almost no willingness to cooperate. >> Are you the one in the car? >> Was there anybody else in you on there? Do you remember what happened? >> No. >> You have a driver's license on you? >> 134. Robert, >> do you have a driver's license on you? >> Do you know your social? What's your first name? to Edward 624. >> Is there anything I can identify you with? Do you have a credit card? Anything like that? You know, talk. Can you talk? >> We have an ambulance coming. They're going to need to speak to you here in a second. back. >> All I care about is that little girl. >> She even dodged questions, continuing to weave a fictional story about mysterious. >> Previous call for service 42 in the cat. trying to go out cuz I forgot and all those crackers were trying to like blast me and they all told me they were going to set me up. >> Did you have anybody else in the car with you? >> You got to attempt hacking advice. >> Did you just stop [ __ ] or tell us where did they go? >> Where did they take that way? They told me not to say nothing. >> Where did they stay? They told me not to say nothing. >> Where do they stay? >> They stay in the hotel. They stay everywhere. >> Hotel. >> The motel. >> Where did you meet them at? >> At the Motel 6. Room 67 or something like that. Like that. Yeah. You get the [ __ ] hotel. Room 67. >> Listen. What were they wearing? said they were way back in the motorcycle with a horse. >> A motorcycle or a bicycle? >> On a bicycle. >> Shortly after [music] a woman returned the child and at that moment the truth came out along with a flood of accusations. >> She was freaking out. We got off this. >> Don't ever be a girl. >> You just went right here. >> She was freaking out. Your car was victim. [laughter] >> I think the medical staff need to check her out. Okay. She's just been in a bad crash. >> She wasn't in the car. We were getting changed for it. The moment we were getting changed, >> there was witness. I can verify that. >> I'm sorry. >> Are you okay, friend? >> Hey, friend. Hey. Hey, look it. You're strong. Okay. >> 162 units responding. We're going to be at the circle. Okay. Sound 13's going to have good time. >> [laughter] >> We were I was literally just with them and then what's your name? >> Yeah, I just went to McDonald's. >> She's getting She was taking to McDonald's. >> You picked me out. >> No, you picked me up. >> I wasn't even driving your car. I wasn't driving your car. I was not driving your car. >> Do you want to be transported to my car? >> I was not driving. Can we take >> his me? >> Can we take you because you were just in a bad crash and you need to get checked out? >> Police are dealing with that right now. Can we take you down to the hospital and get checked out? Just bring back >> [laughter] >> Despite the mother's continued attempts to escalate the situation, the police followed protocol and took her to the hospital for evaluation. >> Okay. Right now, can we take you to the hospital? We want to make sure that you're okay. >> We need We need to make sure that you're okay. You rolled your car over. That's pretty significant. We need to get you checked out. Okay. Um, is she in the park? >> Okay, good. >> Are we the one that flipped the car over? >> Yeah, you were. >> Yeah, you were. >> Can I show one? Uh, I'm gonna I'm gonna assume that >> uh in the store I guess this girl took her into McDonald's. >> She saying she does the hospital with us like she can walk with us. >> No, they can go with us. Yeah. Go. >> Yeah. She can walk over to the ambulance across her a little bit. >> Do you want to walk over to the ambulance instead of >> safer to walk her over there? Okay. >> Let go under your right over here. >> I'll I'll walk with you over there. Okay. >> Okay. I got you. >> She's going to come with us. >> No, we're going to fall right behind you. Okay. >> I got you. Don't be [laughter] scared. >> [laughter] [snorts] >> Isis, come here. >> You and I just come. Come on. >> She's going to walk with us over to the truck. We're going to fall right behind you. Okay. I promise. We're going to follow right behind you. Okay. Watch. Uh, >> can you set her up? Yes. >> All right. You ready? >> Thank you. In the end, the mother was arrested and held on charges of childangerment, thirdderee felony, and providing false information to police. Under New Mexico state law, she could face up to 6 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Children are most vulnerable when living with a irresponsible parents. That's why from police to the wider community, society must remain vigilant and act promptly to protect them. A single moment, a decision, a lapse in attention. Any of these can change a child's world. The stories you've just seen are not merely reports. They reflect the lives of young children in need of care and protection. Not every rule or correction can teach understanding, [music] but every action rooted in thoughtfulness, patience, and compassion plants a seed of hope. If these stories resonated with you, even a little, please [music] like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to continue following our future journeys. See you tomorrow. >> [music] >> Hey, hey, hey.