At some point, you decided to leave the child in the car to go inside and have a drink at the bar. >> I've been hanging out in the bar the whole time. What time did you get here? Less than half an hour ago. I honestly just wanted to get my boyfriend from the bar. I did I was not trying to stay here. On January 28th, 2025, officers from the Edgewater Police Department received a serious call reporting that a child had been left unattended in a car while her parents were inside a bar. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle and the child, but no adult was nearby. You didn't go inside, did you? No, actually I don't want to go inside. I If the child's okay, we're going to hang out and see timing on this. Yeah, because I think that's actually an important factor. We know who the guy is. Hi. Hello. Hello. Are you the owner of this vehicle? >> I am I mean, I am the owner of the vehicle, but I'm not her mother. Okay. She's inside. I just grabbed the keys from her to check on her. Check on who? Her. Okay. What's your name? My name is Josh. I'm her boyfriend the mother of this child. Okay. The man seen here was identified as 39-year-old Joshua Harris, the boyfriend of the child's mother. Joshua walked out of the bar with a beer in his hand, clearly intoxicated, but quickly put it down the moment he saw the officers. While some officers dealt with Joshua, another officer went inside the bar to locate the child's mother, soon realizing her condition was no different from his. Christina. Okay. Uh hello. Okay. What's going on, Christina? Christina, come stay with me. Got an idea of why we're here. Yeah. >> She's fine. You can stay with me. Okay. I just literally came here to get my boyfriend. Okay. And so This is Okay. So, Christina, let me get your information first, actually. Can you come stand over here? Christina. Hey. Where's Josh? Josh is with the other officer. The mother, 35-year-old Christina Vitucci, appeared to be just as intoxicated as Joshua, and during questioning, she continued to act anxiously, struggling to follow the officer's instructions. Listen to me. I am trying Listen, I don't know. Christina, listen. I'm going to give you another opportunity. No, I I know. I know you're not going to get anywhere. Okay. Okay, just let me go. But here's the deal. When I tell you to stop moving >> Okay. All right. Can I just sit right here? Can I just sit right here? Can I just sit right here? I'm debating on whether to put you in handcuffs right now because you don't know how to listen. >> Yes, I'm I know how to listen. You want to have a seat? We can do that. Let's walk over and have a seat. So, Christina, you've been read your rights. Uh I have a feeling you know why we're here. Do you wish to explain or figure maybe help me better understand what the heck is going on? I literally came here to get my boyfriend. We were fighting. Or sleeping. This car? Mhm. Josh. Okay, so this is Josh's This is Josh's car. Um and you were driving Josh's car? I Did you drive Josh's car here? I did. Okay. So, um Josh was here with you. I I he was here. I got here after him. We We had been arguing. I just You can have a seat back down. Thank you. Um So, you and Josh were arguing, and Josh came here by himself. Yes. Okay. And then what time did Josh get here to the bar? I I really don't know, honestly. >> time did you get here to the bar? Can I check my phone? Sure. Probably less than half an hour ago. Okay. About a half an hour ago you got to the bar, and you came inside. >> I came inside. Josh was in here. He was, and then I had been sitting out here watching the baby. Okay. And I just I got a drink. I was just waiting for him to leave so we could go home. Okay. So, at some point, you decided to leave the child in the car to go inside and have a drink at the bar. I was out here the whole time. I literally had just >> my question. My question was at some point you decided to go inside and have a drink at the bar. He was out here watching the baby. Who was? Joshua. So, Josh knew that the baby was out here, too. Yeah. And at one point were you guys both inside No. when the baby was Well, yeah, because we were standing out here for quite a while. So, I'm trying to figure out what at what point did both of you guys decide to go inside and have a drink? And where was the baby? He just wanted to get my boyfriend from the bar. I did I was not trying to stay here at all. I was trying to just go home. According to Christina, she had gone to the bar to pick up Joshua, but her story had noticeable cracks. The child had been left unsupervised for far longer than it would have taken her to get him, was cold to the touch, and both adults were clearly intoxicated. As the investigation continued, other inconsistencies emerged. I understand. Can you explain why you would leave your child in the car unattended on a cold night when the vehicle I I understand. Okay. Do you understand because you're having a very difficult time comprehending and following simple instructions. >> I'm sorry. I'm just nervous. I just want my child back. >> Well, why are you so nervous? Because I just What makes you nervous? I just wanted to go home. I didn't want any of this to happen. >> Okay. Who is What were you guys arguing about today, you and Josh? About him not being home. I just wanted to go home. I live I live with my I live We live over here in Edgewater. I just I Honestly, I just I just So, Sergeant Williams, I I don't know if you're I mean, you might as well hear this in real time. Have a seat. Oh, okay. Thank you. All right. Uh Josh came outside when she went inside, and they were doing a little swap so Josh was watching the child tonight. Josh He was admission that Josh knew that the child was out here, too, even though she came here alone with the child. Um They then both decided to go inside and enjoy some drinks together, and she does not sure how long, and she didn't say anything about an argument, but she wanted him to come home with her. Um They went inside, and they were drinking from there. She's got a drink in her hand. She sat at the bar. Um Oh, she Yeah, and put it down on the bar. It's sitting on the Yeah, this So, Oh. Yeah. Do you want Do you want him to I want to interview him first. Christina. No one was with her. Okay. I did that interview, and then I came over here because I was I think the next Okay. Christina had tried to portray both herself and Joshua as innocent, but her story didn't match the evidence, and the couple was about to realize it. Can I just see my child first? >> Not right now. Okay. We're going to get his info. Okay, go ahead and get his info. Yeah, we can go. All right, go ahead and turn around and put your hands behind your back. Do not do not do that. Do not pull away from me. I'm not. Stop pulling away from me. I'm not pulling away from you. Arrest me right now. If I committed a crime, arrest me right now. I'm going to go inside. Okay, cool. I don't want this to happen. Can you please go back to my parents? Can you please I'm not I'm not Can you please go back to my parents? Yep, we're good. I've been hanging out in the bar the whole time. Keep your voice down. I'm going to talk to you here in a second. Please. Thank you. Um Josh is I just asked her if I did Hey, hey, hey. What did I just tell you? I'm sorry. Can I talk to you, please? No, you can talk to me. You can't yell at me. Give me a second. I'm going to be with I'm going to talk with my other officer for a second, and we'll talk. We won't yell at each other. Thank you. I'm going to go. Okay. Thank you. Can you Can I walk my parents, please? Have a seat. What's his version about the child which is over here? He can do He knew the child was there. Of course he did. Cuz she said that they What is their justification? Didn't give me any justification. They said that he came up here. She wanted She wanted him to go home, which is the same thing she said. I've been here in the bar about I just hanging out. I didn't drive here. I didn't drive this kid here. Okay. How much did they serve you here? I Literally, that was my first drink in the bar. I just ordered I swear to you Yeah, I swear >> level of intoxication is not from this one drink here, but previously you had drinks at your house. No. That's not Something like that. I didn't drive her here. That's not it. That's not the reason. I didn't But I didn't drive her here. They will come over and talk to you. I know, but listen, like how how old did I do anything wrong? I'm just sitting minding my own business inside >> her here has nothing to do with it. What What? Then I'm minding my own business, doing my own thing inside the bar. >> Really not, but okay. I had I had drinks earlier in the day, much earlier in the day. Okay, but today right right this second I've had three drinks all day. Both Christina and Joshua were desperately trying to get out of the situation, with Joshua claiming he wasn't responsible for the child. What they both agreed on was that they were aware the child was in the car, but when one officer approached Joshua to question him, his story quickly changed. I'll talk with you now, Josh. That needs to be read to you because there's some pretty serious allegations. >> I did. And you're in handcuffs. It's pretty evident that you're not free to go. That's a procedural thing that needs to happen. So, you want to talk to me? Tell me what's going on. So, I've been in here by myself hanging out for the last few hours. She showed up here. I told her not to come up here. Mhm. Officer Gray is going to jump in and ask questions as we're going along, too. So, go I told her not to come up here. I said go to the house. I'll meet you there. At no point have I drove this vehicle. It is registered in my name, yes. Because she cannot have a vehicle registered in her name because she has a DUI in North Carolina. Okay. So, I registered the vehicle in this name. Mhm. She paid for the vehicle. It's in my name. Yeah, I think we're focusing on the wrong thing. Like, I don't care about the vehicle. >> Okay. So, what I want to understand is why What What What illegal fraction am I What am I doing? Because I was inside I She just came inside. Mhm. Okay. She came here with her. So, do you want to jump Go ahead, jump in. So, you What time did she get here? Like an hour Like an hour So, it's roughly around 8:00 or around about 7:30. Yes, and I told her multiple times to go in the car, go to my house. >> Did she have any drinks while she was in there? The very last minute, I think yes. >> I ran out here and came out here. At any point did she say she has a kid in the car? She told me yes, she did. Told you yes. When was that? This is when I came out here to check on her. Check on who? Her kid. He came out >> know she was here until That's why I had the keys. I came out here to So, I said, "Give me your keys." My question is so when she got here, she met you inside the bar, correct? >> Yes, she didn't tell me she was in here until Then she told me she was, and I grabbed her keys from where she came out. I I I just I'm trying to understand that she came here and met you inside the bar, correct? >> Yes. Okay. Let's talk about him. Okay. At what point did she tell you that the kid was in the car? Right away? >> out here. Right before you came out here. I ran out here with the keys. Yes. >> Okay. So, you just came out here randomly. >> I grabbed her keys and came out here to check on her. Check on who? Her daughter. How did you know the daughter was in the car? >> She told me when I When you came inside. It's my daughter, but still like I was worried, so I came out here to check on her. After you checked on your That's why you guys are here. Earlier that night, Joshua had claimed he was aware the child was in the car, and Christina said they had both been checking on her constantly. But, at this point, Joshua began to claim he had only just become aware of the child shortly before the officers arrived. A crack in his story the officers couldn't ignore. What time did you get to the bar? Listen, I got off work at 2:00 today. I was at Surf, and then I came here. Okay. When did you guys argue at 5:30? The fact that she wouldn't go home. No, no, no. Initially, like that caused her to come here. >> her to go home and meet me at the house cuz she was with her. Where was she today that she was in the She took her to the Orlando Science Center. Okay. Okay. And I said, "When you get done, we'll meet at the house." So, I got off early today. I work like 70 hours a week. Mhm. I worked What do you do? >> in town. I do vinyl insulation, like car vehicle wraps and stuff like that. I worked in town at Canal Street today, which is very rare. I don't ever work in town. Mhm. My boss said, "You're done for the day cuz I don't want you to come to Orlando." Mhm. I just start I started drinking. So, I started drinking at Surf. I wasn't drunk. I left and came here. Ever since then, I am drunk right now. And I'm not planning on I was not planning on leaving here and driving. >> Um and you think she got here about an hour and a half ago? Yes. Okay. And Sounds like the conversation >> she took I thought she took her home to her parents like she normally does take her to her parents' house. Parents live in the in Port Orange. So, how long was she here before she told you that It was What's the child's name? Keys? That was when I found out. No, no, no. That's So, that's not true. Because you said that you had come out and checked on the child previously. >> No, but she I asked No, I asked her if she was out here, but she said that no, she took her home. Cuz this is weird cuz sometimes she takes her home, sometimes she doesn't. >> different because she was saying that you guys were like swapping back and forth. And that's a different story, right? If you guys are like swapping back and forth, then she comes out She normally does do that. Yeah. No, no, no, no, no. Hell no. No, no, no. I'm sorry. No, no. Listen, I've been like that [ __ ] for 6 months, but I'm not I'm not No, that's that's not how That's how that's going. That's I'm not I'm not playing that [ __ ] Playing what? Like her saying that checking in and out. I never Ask the Ask the bartender if I ever went outside. Joshua began to firmly defend his new version of events, but the bartenders told a very different story. One of them, who arrived at 7:00 p.m., said the couple was already there drinking. Another, who had been at the bar since 6:20 p.m., also confirmed seeing them drinking. These statements showed the child had been left alone for over 2 hours, and that the couple's story was clearly a lie. At this point, the officers had heard enough, and it was time for the couple to face the consequences of their actions. Can I my keys? Can you get We will grab them in a minute. Go ahead and take a seat. I can't. This one is very tight. It is tight. Just hang out for a minute. Yeah. Thank you. Can you tell her to bail me out? It's probably like 100 bucks. Tell her no, I'm going to sue the out of this if they take me to jail. Oh, man. This is the next step. All right. Take me to jail. Come on, let's go. Let's go. My baby! My baby! My baby! My baby! My baby! I just wanted to see my baby! Thanks, that's her daughter. Love you. Come on, Josh. Oh, hi. Are we together? Thank you. She's doing this to I'm not talking. Get the [ __ ] out. I told you we needed to He leave, okay? I'm getting child neglect charges on Yeah, me, too. It's you. Can you please stop? We're in this [ __ ] together. I asked I've been hanging out here by myself. I just >> You brought this on me. I wanted You brought this on me. >> I wanted I didn't do nothing NOW I HAVE CHILD CHARGES ON ME. JOSH, I'm in I have child I have charges ON ME NOW. AND I HAVE A CHILD. >> DID YOU bring her here? I told you to I told YOU TO GO HOME. I ASKED I TOLD YOU TO GO TO HOME. CAN YOU please stop? >> I told you to go home. Please stop. I told you to go home, AND YOU DIDN'T GO HOME. NOW I'M IN HANDCUFFS. I UNDERSTAND. WHY? WHY AM I IN HANDCUFFS? WHY are you freaking out on me? I TOLD YOU TO GO HOME. >> YOU SHOULD HAVE, BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE MY OWN KID. JOSH, I UNDER I KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO BE DOING THIS right now. I just wanted us to be at home together. I told you that. The couple's fear was just another sign that they were fully aware of what had happened that night, and that they had both lied to law enforcement in an attempt to get out of the situation. HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN? MY CHARGES are going to get dropped. I didn't do [ __ ] But, how the [ __ ] What how did this happen? She was sleeping. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU BROUGHT HER HERE. I TOLD YOU TO GO HOME. YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT to leave you. Then then look AT US. NOW LOOK AT US. Now look at Now look at what happened because you decided to not All of this stuff is happening because of you. You didn't care. Be quiet. You didn't listen to me. You should have went home, and everything would have been fine. I just been hanging out here by myself. >> I'm not mad at you, Josh. I JUST LITERALLY WANTED TO LEAVE with you. To take her home and go to the house, and I'll meet YOU THERE. NOW I'M [ __ ] IN HANDCUFFS FOR CHILD NEGLECT. WHY? BECAUSE my [ __ ] name is on your car? BECAUSE MY NAME is registered to your vehicle, which she said that's why I'm in handcuffs right now. I'm sorry. Please don't [ __ ] leave ME THROUGH THIS. >> BECAUSE NOW I GOT TO [ __ ] GO ON A [ __ ] WEBSITE OVER MY CHILD NEGLECT. I'M GOING TO LOOK LIKE I'M A PIECE OF [ __ ] I didn't do nothing wrong. Josh, shut I literally Get me out of this [ __ ] car. >> going to get us out of anything right now. They don't want to deal with us. We shouldn't have been [ __ ] doing this. IT'S MY YOU, NOT ME. I UNDERSTAND. I DIDN'T do nothing wrong. You dragged me into this [ __ ] No, I [ __ ] YOU [ __ ] GOT ME IN HANDCUFFS. I didn't do nothing wrong. You got me in handcuffs. This is the first time I've never been arrested, and I haven't done [ __ ] wrong. Listen to me. Can you please stop? No. I don't want to get I look like a piece of [ __ ] How do I look as a mother right now? >> Yes, YES. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE. YOU did You did You shouldn't have brought her here. >> No, I shouldn't have, but I was just waiting FOR YOU. >> FOR WHAT? I TOLD I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO COME HERE. I TOLD YOU TO GO HOME. IN THE END, both Christina and Joshua were charged with neglect.