Man left boys in hot car at junkyard, police say
A man faces child abuse charges after allegedly leaving his sons, 6 and 7, in a hot car while he browsed a junkyard for automobile parts. The boys were crying, drenched in sweat and having stomach pains, a judge said in bond court. Paramedics estimated that the boys had been left for an hour to an hour and a half and were on the verge of heatstroke. The father told police he had left the kids in the car with the engine off for 10 to 15 minutes with the windows open at the top.
Though the rest of the country is coping with winter weather, children left alone in a car in South Florida in December can still be vulnerable to heat stroke. And that is what Davie Police say happened Saturday to two boys, ages 6 and 7, as their father browsed a junk yard looking for car parts.
“This was very bad judgment to say the least,” said during bond court Sunday. “911 was called because allegedly the children were screaming and crying, and drenched in sweat and having stomach pains.”
Paramedics estimated that the boys were left in a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan for an hour to an hour and a half, and on the verge of heat stroke, she said.
Alan Aneuris Luna, 28, a mechanic from Hollywood, was arrested Saturday at U-PULL-IT, at 4301 S. State Road 7. He told police he left the kids unattended in his car with the engine off for 10 to 15 minutes. The windows were opened at the top, according to the arrest report.
The boys did not open the Mitsubishi for other customers and the manager of the business because the men were strangers, but did accept bottled water from the manager, police said.
Other efforts by the UPULL-IT staff included making announcements on the business’ public address system in English and Spanish, and when no one came forward, called police.
At about 12:52 p.m., Luna’s
“I am concerned about his judgment, his ability to properly protect these children or the issue of neglect, and that will be decided by the court.” Merrilee Ehrlich, Broward judge
sons opened the car for firefighters. It took 15 to 20 minutes for the children to recover after they sat in an air-conditioned rescue truck and were given water, the arrest report said.
It was sunny and about 78 degrees in Davie on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, and Luna’s sedan was parked partly in the sun.
“People are urged not to leave people (young or old) or animals unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time,” Sgt. Mark Leone said in an email Tuesday. “Even when temperatures are relatively cool outside, the interior temperature could raise 20 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the window partially open.”
He urged anyone who witnesses a vulnerable person or animal left inside a locked, hot car to call 911 and remain there until police or firefighters arrive.
On Sunday, Luna’s wife
and children appeared at the main county courthouse in Fort Lauderdale for his bond hearing.
An unidentified character witness called Luna “a responsible person” who has never been arrested or convicted of a crime.
Luna faces two counts of abusing a child without great bodily harm. A prosecutor asked for bonds of $3,000, while an assistant public defender sought bail of $2,000.
“In light of the fact that they are 6 and 7,” the defense attorney said. “Children of that age should be able to open a car if they feel trapped inside.”
Ehrlich set bonds of $2,000 and ordered Luna to not be left alone with the children until his case is resolved.
“I am concerned about his judgment, his ability to properly protect these children or the issue of neglect, and that will be decided by the court,” Ehrlich said.
The prosecutor said he filed a child abuse report with the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The Broward Sheriff’s child protective investigations section is investigating the situation on behalf of the department. The children are with relatives and the family did not have a prior history with DCF, a spokeswoman said.