Monday, March 30, 2009 | 9:11 AM MT CBC News
A Calgary father has been charged with child abandonment after firefighters rescued a toddler from a locked car parked outside a casino early Monday.
Casino video footage showed the boy, 21 months old, was likely in the car for about six hours, said police duty Insp. Rob Williams. The temperature outside was around –8 C.
"This isn't the first time, unfortunately, that we have heard of children being left in the parking lot of a mall, or a casino or a bingo hall," Williams said. "People got to realize there is a criminal charge. We were quite shocked to find this child in this condition. He wasn't even dressed properly."
The windows of the car were covered with blankets so the child couldn't be seen, but his father, 50, occasionally checked on him, said Williams.
A patron of the Silver Dollar Casino, in the 1000 block of 42 Ave. S.E., heard a child crying and called for help just after midnight.
"Fire crews gained access to the vehicle and removed a 21-month old male child from a rear child restraint," police said in a statement. "The child had vomited on his clothing, very lightly dressed with no shoes or socks. He was cold and crying."
After the rescue, the man was arrested inside the casino and the child was taken to hospital in non-life-threatening condition for assessment. After his release, the toddler will be handed over to Child and Family Services, said Williams.
"We don't have any indication of a mother present at the time, so I can't comment on whether there is a mother in the child's life at all," said Williams.
Police aren't naming the father to protect the boy's identity.
Source:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...d.html?ref=rss
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What an asshole.....he doesn't deserve to be a father....:mad:
