You know, she was in that pool by herself with We didn't want to see her. >> Has this happened before? >> Officers have just responded to a Florida home where parents allegedly left their unattended in a pool while passed out inside. >> Are we going to be arrested? This has never ever happened before. >> I'm not trying to be a but I had a 2-year-old on me. That hits home with me. I understand you guys are sleeping. Yeah, I mean she's 3-year-old. >> Oh no. >> That's like about a foot of water. You know what I'm saying how dangerous that can be. >> On July 28th, 2024, officers in Flagler County, Florida responded to a frantic call from a neighbor who had reported a 3-year-old in a backyard pool. When deputies arrived at the home, what they were met with was only the beginning of what would become a deeply disturbing investigation. >> What's going on, man? So, uh What's going on today? >> We were just sleeping. I said it's nothing too bad. I'm just trying to We literally just woke back up. Usually she's in the house not able to turn the freaking knob, but apparently she just turned the knob and just >> Okay. Okay. Is uh Is uh Is mom in there as well? >> Yeah, she's in there. You want me to go get her? >> Yeah. Are you guys usually sleeping at this time? >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean we ain't doing nothing. It's Sunday. >> Yeah, I got you. So So, what's going on today? >> Oh, I literally I was just sleeping. >> Yeah. >> That's all That's all we were doing. >> Did you guys Did you guys have like a long night? >> Yeah. >> It is uh It is 6:00. Um All right, so uh The neighbor over there she found her in this pool. This little baby pool. And uh she like opened your door and she said she was hollering for you guys. And you guys must have Where does it Where's usually at? Or where do you guys sleep? >> Usually in our room. >> In your room's over to the left and she's in the she's in the middle room? >> No, not in there. In the front. >> The front room? >> Yeah. Yeah, and this is the first time she's ever done this. This is the first time she's ever done something like this. >> How old is she? >> She just turned three. >> She just turned three? >> Yes. >> What's her name? >> Nivea. >> Nivea? Upon arrival, officers spoke with the mother and her boyfriend, a man who'd had his own run-ins with police before. The young was discovered playing alone in a small kiddie pool filled with water. Concerned neighbors found the in the pool at around 6:30 p.m. and spent approximately 20 minutes loudly yelling and knocking on the home's open front door trying to get the parents' attention with no response. Officers responded quickly after learning that a toddler had been left unsupervised near standing water, a danger that even at shallow depths can turn fatal for young What time did you guys go to go to bed? >> Literally just like two hours ago. >> Two hours ago? >> Yeah. I got to Can I uh >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. You you >> Are we going to be arrested? >> What's up? >> Are we going to be arrested? >> I'm uh >> This is never This is never ever happened before. I >> Yeah, okay. >> How in the world she opened the chain door? She's never >> What time What time did you guys go to bed? And when was the last time you saw her? >> Well, we had taken a nap with her. That's why I don't understand like she was >> Okay, she was sleeping with you guys? >> Usually she would wake me up. This has never ever happened before. Usually she wakes me up and lets me know, "Hey Mommy." Or you know, she'll let me know if she's hungry or if she You know, she's I'm a very alert mom. She's a bad mom. >> I'm just How did This has never happened? >> No, listen. >> She's never walked outside of the house before or anything like that? >> She The The only one time that she did was 4th of July cuz we were over at their house for Well, I have another neighbor like a street over and we were at their party for 4th of July. >> Okay. >> And we had stopped at their house for a little bit cuz we just cut through the corner of a nearby field cuz it's right over there and I had came home, we both had came home and I just changed both of our outfits cuz we were both in bathing suits and they didn't have a pool or anything and I just wanted to get out of the bathing suits and then I had the door was left open like this and she just I mean I had eyesight of her going and she ran over to the neighbor's house. So that was You know I watched her that time. But this time like this this is never happened. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Do you Do you understand uh I mean she's 3 years old. >> I know. >> That's like about a foot of water 3 or 4 inches of water. You know what I'm saying how dangerous that can be and uh Do you mind talking Do you mind talking to my partner here for a sec? >> Hey guys. So is your door usually locked? Front door? >> Yeah, my my door stays locked but I had an incident the other day and I literally just put a freaking camera up because this happened. But like my door somebody tried to break in and >> Yeah, we don't know who we trying to come over here, man. We just >> That's why I don't understand you cuz she can't open my door like that. >> You need to empty that when we're done. I'm not trying to be a but I had a 2-year-old dummy and that kind of hit toward me. It's home with me. And my wife has a 1-year I have a 1-year-old. That's home with me. I understand you guys are sleeping. >> I literally just cleaned the pool yesterday. >> but it could have been a lot worse. You're lucky your neighbors came outside. Because she walked outside and jumped in that pool. She hit her head. If she just jumped down, she would have been So, when we're done and we leave and all that, you need to dump that pool. Only fill it up when she when you're coming outside and you're like, "All right, let's go in the pool room." Fill it up. I know it sucks filling it up, but I'd rather you fill it up >> going to take it back cuz this is our first time actually putting the pool up. >> And it doesn't boil up, so >> I got you. Just going to take it back. That was a one-time thing. >> But she usually My front door stays locked and we usually keep the screen door locked because she doesn't know how to unlock it and she's never >> Yeah, I promise she don't know how to unlock it cuz I don't unlock the uh screen door. You told me to. I don't I don't know what's going >> she's never >> Is she in a swim diaper right now, too? Was she in it today? >> No, that's that's a pull-up. She goes to sleep in it. She just took the pull-up she was wearing before >> I got you. All right. >> But that's that's what I told him. She was napping with us and usually like when she gets up, she usually wakes me up. So, for her even do like Well, she's never done anything like this. And she doesn't have clothes on. Hold >> Do you have clothes I can go get I can go bring it to her right now? Just We're just going to figure everything out here first. >> Okay. >> I'll be right back. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Cassidy claimed she had fallen asleep with Nevada on her chest around 6:00 p.m. insisting she was a very alert mom and that an incident like this had never happened before. The deputies then spoke to the neighbors to get their side of the story. >> So, is there anything I can help you with? >> Good. And this is my husband, Dave. He's on the porch. >> Okay. >> I'm not going to say it in front of her. But that pool right there, she was in that by herself. I have asked her mother how we knocked on the door. The door was already open. I hollered for them. My husband hollered for them and nobody has come out yet. >> Okay. >> So, you know, she was in that pool by herself and we didn't want to see her. I know of friends that they and then just So, that >> She didn't have like any like pool gear on her? >> She was totally by herself. Mom and them was asleep or something. >> Okay. >> I don't know what they're doing. >> Okay. All right. And this was how long ago? >> This has been 20 minutes. >> 20 minutes since then and no one has come out here? >> I haven't checked. >> Do my ears look normal? >> Our neighbor's been out there, too. So, you know, I we didn't want to call, but I I told Dave, I said, "Look, she was in the pool with water in it. It takes a split second for a drown." >> Yeah. >> So, because we did knock on her door, gave her an opportunity to come to the door, and then we yelled at them inside the door and nobody still came. I said, "To me, that's a red flag and we're obligated for that call." >> All right. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's definitely a red flag. >> else with us or anything. >> Yeah, I mean, look how small look how small they are. I mean, they they drown in 3 in of water. >> I have grandchildren and that is a lot. >> Yeah, all right. >> Okay. >> And you said the kids have been with you for 20 minutes? >> About and I saw her come out of the door by herself. The door was standing open and she went out and got in that pool. >> Yeah, um >> And we went over her and tried calling, nobody answers, tried calling the phone, nobody answers. >> All right. Do you Do you know if it's just one person inside right now? >> I believe there's two. >> Yeah, okay. Cuz I I I know the male usually works or does like some sort of landscaping or something like that. >> He is actually not allowed over there. >> Oh, it's a different guy? >> Yeah, yeah, I don't I don't know this guy. >> Okay. I'm glad that she's okay right now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, she's she's happy. >> Yeah. >> They all like to come here. They call him >> He calls us papa and grandma. All the kids in the neighborhood. >> As deputies first spoke with the neighbors, the concern was clear. They had seen Nevada outside alone, stepped in to keep her safe, and still could not get anyone inside the home to respond. But as the conversation continued, officers learned this may not have been the first time Nevada had gotten out by herself. >> Yeah, just not her pants because the diaper's probably wet. >> Okay. >> Um just a shirt and her shoes for right now. >> Okay. >> I can see your grandma. >> Yes. >> Between the two of us, we got 21 grandkids. Holy. >> grandbabies >> I've got 21 >> big and small >> The oldest one of mine graduates this year. >> Oh my goodness. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah, I just had a year graduated from college. >> I just had a year >> just turned one. >> I have a year and a half old, so. >> Yeah, well, that was I mean, I >> Let's put your >> We hated having to call y'all. We went over there >> No, I I I I I told him because I had a 2-year-old on me in the pool. >> Yeah. >> And my wife was pregnant at the time. I got to call so I was like, she could >> Yeah, I have >> I mean, like she could have hit her head and drowned or she could have dunked in and then just >> She came out by herself and she said, "Mommy's sleeping." But we knocked on the door and hollered. >> So, it was She found her phone number. >> If we would have called out to her, then they would have answered, but we yelled and we knocked hard on the door. >> And you did that and they didn't respond? >> You know, working with the mentally ill facility. >> No. >> Mhm. >> I can't. I can't. That's just a I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. I said whether they'd be mad at me or not. >> How has this happened before? >> No. No, this is They haven't been there that long. >> She She She has when we had the 4th of July party with her. >> Yeah, but she meant She has She has come over here, but they just got that pool. >> But, but her daughter has come out of the house. So, that's That's the third time that we've known her being out. >> We were very nice to her. >> Yes, it was the third time. >> Okay. >> What's that? >> All right. >> You think great? She calls him papa, you know. But, it is it is ice cream. >> Okay. >> You need ice cream. >> Wait. >> I'm sorry. Yeah. How long has uh >> Is that for me? >> It's for both. Nice. Ice cream. Um How long has uh Is How long has this gentleman lived in here for? >> I don't know who this dog is. >> Okay. Is this uh the girl's biological child? >> Not that I'm aware of. >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> I have no idea. >> I think it might be hers, but not his. >> It's hers. >> What's up? >> That's a police report. >> I was thinking you would move your car real quick. Yeah, he's on his way. >> [laughter] >> All right. Oh, hi. Hi, what's up? Oh, what's going on? >> What is this one? >> This is a light. >> Is it a toy? >> It's a badge. Kind of a toy. It's so It's so people know who we are. Did you know Did you know she has any uh like relatives nearby or anything like that, family members? Did she have a sister or something that comes over? Uh supposedly this is her brother, so uh family assistance. All right. All right. Okay. So The dog is hurt. I saw that they were banging on the door yelling and no one came. And then that's when the little girl was like, "There's something." >> Now having this information, officers now turn their attention back to the parents to get more details before making a final decision. >> I got to ask you a few questions. >> Okay. >> Before I do I'm going to read you your rights. That doesn't mean you're in trouble. >> Are you arresting me? >> I have to come up to with that conclusion. I'm just going to read you your rights, just a formality. >> I don't have anybody to shoot my picture. I can't. I've never been away from her like that. I can't. Like this never happens. I >> Okay. >> Listen, we're going to work through that together. So just try to get through the questioning and I promise you we'll handle that. >> All right. First off, I'm Deputy Coma. The reason why I'm here This this incident that happened with you. Um these are your rights. You have the right to remain silent and anything you say may be used as evidence against you. Do you understand these rights? With these rights in mind, are you willing to talk to me? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Okay. At what time was the last time you saw your >> Um we went to sleep maybe I mean we we usually don't take late evening naps, but I I just hurt my neck the other day when I was putting up the cameras and fell off the ladder, so my neck's been hurting and I just >> Okay. >> She was in the bed with us and we just we were watching a movie and we just fell asleep, but um probably we fell asleep at least like like maybe right at 6:00. >> Okay. Okay, and and the I'm sorry, I forget the >> Niveah. >> Niveah. >> Yes. >> And Niveah was with you in the bed when you fell asleep around 6:00. >> Yeah, she was literally laying on his chest. She That's why I don't understand. She's never came out of the door like this. She's never like >> Okay. >> I freaking know this is just a mess. [snorts] I literally just got this pool yesterday and I was going to take it down cuz when I went to put it up the the top of it doesn't blow up. And but I still let her play in it like earlier today before it started raining just to get some energy out and stuff cuz we don't really come outside like that because the bugs are so bad. >> Right. All right, so the pool the pool was filled all day today, right? You didn't fill it today at all, it was filled yesterday. >> It No, it it was filled yesterday and then I brought her but I didn't drain it out yesterday cuz I was going to bring her back out to play in it today, but when I realized the thing wasn't the top part wasn't blowing up. It doesn't hold sustainably like it would if it would blow up, so I but I still let her play in it a little bit today and then we just brought her in the house. She played in it for maybe like 2 hours earlier like but I sat outside and watched her. >> Yeah. >> I I would never let her do that unsupervised cuz I I've seen things that can happen like that and that's why I just don't understand because she's never came out of the house like this without Like, the one time that she ran over to the neighbor's house, I had view of her and do >> Yeah. Yeah. You're mentioning that happened July 4th, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um >> I don't leave her with anybody >> [laughter] >> unless she goes to daycare. She's always with me. I've never been away from her. >> Okay. All right. Do you mind you grabbing him for me so I can talk to him? >> I did. >> What is >> Say >> Say no. >> Okay. >> They're done. >> You need me to talk to him? >> Okay. >> Okay. And you can still talk to him. >> No, I'm not >> You know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But um I think he's fine as >> [snorts] >> Um I'm still on the >> he's fine as She's not considered in the custody thing. Just her. >> Okay. >> Deputies then separated the parents to lock down each version of the story. Cassidy had already explained how the nap started, but now officers needed to know what role her boyfriend believed he had in watching Nevada. >> What's happening now? >> What I'm going to I'm going to do the same as I did right there. This is just a formality. You're not You're not in any trouble. I'm going to read you your rights, all right? Um As you can tell, no one's in handcuffs. Just something we have to do. >> In the court of law and >> Oh, yeah, I know cuz somebody else actually didn't do that uh from y'all team that and that's how my uh charges got dropped. >> All right. Well, I'm Deputy Coma. My inquiry here is just figuring out what happened with Nivea and how she got away. Um these are your rights. You have the right to remain silent and anything you say may be used as evidence against you. With these rights in mind, are you willing to talk to me? All right. All right. Who Who are you in terms of family picture? Are you dating Cassidy? >> Yeah, that's my >> Okay. Okay. Um do you Does Cassidy ever leave Demetrius with you alone? Are you Are you a caregiver at at all and by any means? >> Only if she has to do something like say like something outside or >> Okay. Okay. She doesn't Does she get out much? Does she like to go >> really can't. >> Okay. All right. So you you know and how long have you been with Cassidy? >> 2 months. >> 2 months? Okay. So you don't really consider yourself a caregiver caregiver at all. >> I'm not going to say I don't care. >> Yeah yeah no no no I'm not saying you don't care. I'm just saying in terms of like >> guardianship. >> guardianship. >> Oh, um I mean I guess not. >> Okay. All right then. Um do you have any questions for me? >> Uh no. Yes. Well, actually I do got one. What's going to happen to her? >> I don't know that We're trying to figure We're trying to figure that out. Uh obviously we don't we don't have the we don't have the power to do so. Obviously since since she's a minor we're going to have to contact DCF. And DCF does their own thing as well. They do their own investigation. They talk to everyone involved. They may talk to you. They'll talk to her. >> Oh, that's fine, man. I mean they don't >> They're a lot more, you know, qualified in terms of deciding where should be placed that goes or stays. >> Mhm. >> Um they can't do anything on the criminal side of things. >> Oh, see I'm not a criminal. >> Uh no no no no that's >> I'm not a criminal see I was really driving with all the li- uh not a license driving with a license suspended. So and then I got all that figured out though, but I got all all that dropped. >> Yeah, I I can tell your license is is is valid. >> Yeah. >> So, um I I wasn't accusing. I was just saying like in terms of making arrests or placing arrests or, you know, deciding between placements, that's that's our business. They do basically placement plans, either like uh parental plans as well. >> Dude. >> Other than that All right. Uh if Do you have any more questions for me or >> Well, no, I'm not. >> Yeah, well Well, you're good. I think I've concluded everything here. >> Did you say that again? >> Can you turn around for me and put your hands behind your back? >> Can I call somebody to get my daughter, please? >> We'll we'll work that out. >> us 1 second, okay? We'll let you take a make a phone call, okay? Just give us 1 second. >> I'll hold your phone. >> Wait, wait, what about my I didn't mean I'm sorry. >> Hold on, both of you. Narc, watch your general direction. For the I don't want her to see you in handcuffs, okay? I know you want to say I Listen, get you want to see your kid, 100%. I would too, but I don't want her to see you in handcuffs, okay? >> Is there any You can't walk me over there. I'm just >> Alpha 3, 12 flagrant. >> Well, yeah, figure out placement for the family. >> I'm just holding you, ma'am. >> Whiskey Foxtrot 10-50. >> You have shoes? Sandals? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I think lately they're not >> All right, can you just take >> Take her sandals real quick. >> Is there Is there Is there any way you guys could walk me to the neighbors and just take me out of the cuffs so I can hug my daughter? >> Unfortunately, for the best of your daughter, I don't think it'll be right for her to see her mom in handcuffs. >> Oh my god. >> So, in terms of her placement >> away from me like this. >> In In terms of terms of her placement, we're going to have the immediate response from DCF to see >> [music] >> what we could possibly do. Um or what do you think is the best option? For your daughter, do you think your daughter should stay here? Do you think your daughter should stay here with him? Over there with the neighbors? They say they have 22 grandchildren. I'm not, you know, vouching for them or anything like that. But what do you think is the best for her? >> I still prefer to at least try to call my sister and my brother and see if one of them could come. >> Okay. We can We can definitely make that phone call happen. Uh do they live far? >> Um my my sister lives in Joliet. My brother lives lives in Palatka. >> Okay. >> Um >> I'll call. >> Uh did they take down his number, do you know? >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to turn your phone off cuz you're at 36%. I don't want it dialing while you're walking around. All right. >> You think you can put my back on? >> All right. And I'll put one 11 side of her. >> Just about your head. I'm going to have to secure you, all right? And then sit down. >> Can you put Can you put my handcuffs in the front, maybe? I won't >> I'm sorry. That can't happen. It's just per policy. >> Do you know if they typically like give bonds for stuff like this? >> Uh there might be. You'll find out in the jail. Uh you'll have first appearance tomorrow morning at 8:30. >> I know this is probably a stupid question, but is it Is it really necessary to arrest me in front of my daughter like this if we're happy? I don't have like a criminal record or anything. This is never I just want my daughter. >> Ultimately, Cassidy was arrested and charged with felony without great bodily harm. DCFS was contacted to step in, and the young toddler was safely turned over to family members.