
Thomas Benton from Denver, Colorado was traveling with his 1-year-old son, the night of March 16, to a friend's home in an apartment complex. When Benton arrived, he parked in a convenient - although illegal - parking space. Dumb. Signs were clearly visible that said illegally parked cars would be towed.
Since his son was asleep, Benton left him in the car unattended. Very dumb. About an hour later, Benton returned to the parking spot and, finding his car and son missing, called the police. He told them it was a possible kidnapping and that he had left his son in the car for only 10 minutes. After further investigation, it was determined that the car had sat for 40 minutes before being towed.
The driver of the tow truck never saw the child and, since the toddler was sleeping, never even heard a peep. The police found the car at the tow yard with the sleeping child safe and sound. Benton was arrested for child neglect. He went from dumb parent to dumb crook in one night.
One of the officers said it best, "It doesn't matter if it's 10 minutes or 1 minute - you should NEVER leave a child alone in a car!"
Since his son was asleep, Benton left him in the car unattended. Very dumb. About an hour later, Benton returned to the parking spot and, finding his car and son missing, called the police. He told them it was a possible kidnapping and that he had left his son in the car for only 10 minutes. After further investigation, it was determined that the car had sat for 40 minutes before being towed.
The driver of the tow truck never saw the child and, since the toddler was sleeping, never even heard a peep. The police found the car at the tow yard with the sleeping child safe and sound. Benton was arrested for child neglect. He went from dumb parent to dumb crook in one night.
One of the officers said it best, "It doesn't matter if it's 10 minutes or 1 minute - you should NEVER leave a child alone in a car!"