So, basically, is we got a call by another customer that there's a baby. The door is unlocked on the backside. Unattended, nobody there with them. Baby look like she's She or he is asleep. Sweetie. Sweetie. So, yeah, I'm Central 12 744. Ellie, it's a EOC. So, today, uh we're informed by a uh customer that they saw a kid in the car without anyone else. Um yeah, the kid's awake or she's sleeping, but I uh rubbed her chest, she started moving. So, he's Yeah, I saw him. Who was the manager? We all are. All of us? Okay. Yeah, let me call you back. I got EMT here. I got to call you back. Bye. Um So, basically, I got a call from my front end uh associate saying that there was a customer claimed that there was a baby in the car unattended. The customer was here, but then decided to leave. Um then, when we came out to address the situation, I couldn't tell if there was a baby in there or not. So, obviously, I opened the door and saw that the baby was in there, but the baby's been in one piece since then. Oh my god. Yeah, you're good. Thank you. So, basically, as you found her is pretty much what we've been doing is just standing and making sure nobody comes in or addresses anything. So, the baby, but the baby's just been like that literally sleeping. Have you all seen anyone come by the car or nothing like that? No, we came directly after school in the front. There's a Huh? We can pull the video. >> Yeah, we can pull it and make sure whatever we need. Okay, sure. Uh do you have your ID with you? It's Cindy. >> Okay, what's your first name? Um said that they saw a kid unattended in the car. Um this front end and all the store managers ended up coming out here. They uh walk up to the car, see the car's unattended, no customer, nothing like that around. Signal 44 is in the car seat sitting there. Uh they said that the car was unlocked. They didn't open it or anything like that. When I got here, um signal 44 what? No, sorry, it's a juvenile for us. >> Juvenile, okay, okay. Um when I got here, she was in the car seat, didn't appear like she was moving or anything, so I opened the door, rubbed her chest, then she started to move around. Um medics got here, they pulled her out, and she's in there checking vitals and Yeah, I'm talking to my guys now. He said they're a little She's a little lethargic, um but she could also be a little sleepy girl. So, we're trying to figure that out. >> She's got like a scrape on her knee. Did uh anybody come out and claim vehicle or kid? Not yet. Okay. I'm sure they're inside right now making a request over the the PA. Yep. Cool deal. Well, I'm going to give these guys a minute. >> to come out and see what it is. What's that? And then they're going to come out of this Um kid's getting checked out by medics now. When I pulled up, manager said that they had a customer come in the store telling them that they observed a kid in the car unattended. Okay. All the managers in the store came out, were standing around the car. They said that they saw her in the backseat. Didn't appear to be awake. Uh might be our person right there. Um I get up to the car, I look in the window, juvenile's not really moving or anything. I open the door, rub her chest, she starts moving around. Uh medics got here, they take her out of the car seat, and they're checking her vitals now. How warm's inside the car? It's not warm. It's like outside air temperature. Um that might be mom right there. Oh, let's go talk to her. >> Wyman. I think that's mom. Right there? No. She came out of the store and then did like one of those numbers. Oh, okay. So, I thought that might have been All right. So, I have um their loss prevention is looking at the cameras to see if they can see anyone exit the car. Was that mom? No. But, as of right now, we don't have any 43 on her info. No one's came out the store yet. They said that they haven't had anyone come up to them yet. Um the kid has a cut on her knee. Just like an open scar, but that's probably unrelated. She's a toddler, under two, I would guess. 98533 Anybody come up yet? Yeah, no. >> Nope. Okay. So, assessing this kid, yeah, she's she's very young, 1 to 2 years old. Why would anyone leave such a young child alone in an unlocked car? You can feel the growing worry as medics note how lethargic and dirty she is. What if no one had noticed? Do you have your ID, buddy? No. Okay. What's your name? Thomas. Shane. Is this your car? This is my wife's car. She Your wife's car? Okay. My wife ran in the store. Okay. How many kids do you have? Three? Okay. Who was the other kid in the car? My daughter. Yeah. Okay. As Yes. Why is mommy Why is my baby sister in the ambulance? Well, because we was concerned about her. What's up? We were at the checkout line in the store. 20 minutes. He's been in the car the whole time. Mhm. You know, she's not supposed to be left in there, even with him, cuz he's under age also. So, So, you got to be 18? No, but you got to be like a reasonable age, He's very smart. Yeah, yeah. I got three of them. Mhm. Sir, Yes, sir. are you the father of this child? I am. So, this is where we're standing at? I am the mother. Is she also here? Yes, she is. So, just so you're aware, for our assessment, while we're not identifying any life threats, she does look like she is sick. Looks like there's something might be going on, and all we're concerned about is her well-being. Now, obviously, we're very limited on what we can see, but we strongly suggest that she go to a local doctor, get evaluated, go to a hospital, be evaluated by a physician. And if they don't find anything, then from there, she'll be medically cleared. Yeah, she's Yeah, I just assessed her. We're getting her life vest. We were on the paddle board swimming all day. So, she's not sick. Um the medic right here Did you hear me? What? You're on speaker phone. The medic's right here. What's the mother's name? Melissa. So, Miss Melissa, Yes. Um you're speaking with Lieutenant Zarate of Marion County Fire Rescue. Okay. So, ma'am, um currently, the position we're in right now, your daughter was found in the vehicle alone. Uh I was in there. The vehicle Somebody had called 911 just because they were concerned about your daughter. Um Per my medic who did the evaluation, for our assessment, your daughter does look like she might be sick. Um Your Your husband was telling me telling us that she had come from from River all day, so that would explain her being covered in dirt. However, it would be within her best interest for her to be evaluated by a physician. Our suggestion is that she goes to a local hospital to be evaluated. And if they find nothing wrong with her, well, then she'll be medically discharged tonight. But, if they do do do an evaluation and they find something going on, then we'd be able to address it early. That is our our professional opinion. But, we want to be there with her. Yeah, absolutely. So, yeah, you would You guys wouldn't be barred from that. As far as I'm concerned, you know, you guys could follow to the hospital and be in the room with her. But, it's our suggestion that she go to the hospital. Um I can take her to be evaluated. I hear I hear I hear you, ma'am. So, are you denying medical transport? Um yeah, I would prefer to take her myself to the hospital. Mom and Dad finally show up, but the explanations don't match the reality. How does a quick grocery run turn into this level of fear and consequences for the whole family? All right. I'm going to read you something here. You have the right to remain silent. Do you understand these these rights I've explained to you? Yes. Having these in mind, do you wish to speak to me? No. Thank you. Why are we all out here in the parking lot of Walmart tonight? Yes. I left my son and my daughter in the car while I went in and did do shopping, and my son came in there. He said, "Get me." How long were you in there before your son came and got you? 5 10 minutes. What time did you finally find you in the store about? Um gosh. What time did we get here? 9:20, maybe 9:25. >> 9:20, you say? Yeah, that's when we got here. So, you probably 9:30, 9:35. Okay. How about if we back up to when this all started, and you start being honest with me? I am. No, you're not. >> I don't know. Cuz I've got you on video. I know what that time frame is. Okay. And it is not your time frame. So, why don't you start by telling me the truth and read through it again? I um don't know the exact time. What time was it? 9:00. I I don't have to tell you. You tell me what time it was. You left two children unattended in a car. I would know exactly what time I did it, how quick, how long it took me to get back out here. And you're telling me it took you at least 20 minutes after your son found you? I was in the store 30 35 minutes total. Let's go with 40 minutes. Okay. And your son was not in the car. Your son went in the car with you. Or went into the store with you. I know this for a fact. Yeah, my son came into the store with me. >> With you when you went in. Correct. In fact, when you came back out to the car, you bailed on your son, left him in the store. He didn't know where you were for a couple of minutes. When they I said told him to come on, and he was in the toy aisle or whatever. He was in the >> was wandering around cuz you'd already made your way out here. Told him to Did he Was he on your heels? No, no. 7 years old, you left him in a Walmart unattended. Even for 2 minutes, that's all it takes for somebody to snatch him. I'm scared to death for my daughter. And I ran, and he's over here doing push-ups and jumping on this car. I have three children, and it's hard to deal with. Yeah, raising kids is hard. I get that. And I have one that's elderly. >> But let let me tell you something, okay? You went in the store at about 9:53. Yes? 9:53. >> 8:53, I'm sorry. Okay. All right. That about right? I'm going to miss you. >> Your son went in the store with you, right? Yes. You were in there for 35 to 40 minutes before you heard a page to come back out to your car, right? >> And I came right out of the store. The whole time you're in the store, with your son. Yes. The whole time your daughter's out here in the car unattended, correct? Car is not locked, correct? Car was not locked. Did you know it was not unlocked? No. You thought you locked it? Yes. Okay. Cuz we had a We had a light issue in the back. >> Okay. So, you're telling me that you were in the store for 35 to 40 minutes with your son, with your daughter out here in the car. She was sleeping in the car. Was And nobody was watching her. I'm the water all day. Nobody was watching her. Except for Except for the managers. When they became aware of this, stood around this car for 30 minutes watching her to make sure nothing happened. Because you were in the store. Do we see a problem? Set your cup on the truck. You're under arrest. Can I ask why I'm under arrest? For what? >> left your child in an unattended car for 40 minutes. The fact that you still don't know why you're going to jail is crazy. [ __ ] What is the charge? Child neglect. Child neglect. This kind of [ __ ] My bad. Do you have anything on you that you should not? Any weapons, any guns, drugs, knives? The thing you got to hide is in this pocket. Without a lighter. Fishing pole. Don't reach for it. Correct. Don't reach for it. I'm not Stand right there. Stop. All right, I'm asking you one more time. You got anything in your on your pockets, any on your person that you shouldn't? >> fishing equipment, and that's it. That's it. All right. Lean up against the car. Spread your feet. Wider. Thank you. So, Walmart's not going to call us, and we're going to end up putting a charge on Okay. So, you came into Walmart fishing gear? Yep, we got fishing poles in the back. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Spread your feet. All right, go ahead, have a seat. You ever been arrested before? Yeah. In Florida? Uh yes, once. Okay, for what? Uh It was a misdemeanor possession charge. Okay. What about in South Carolina? Yeah. For what? Uh violation of misdemeanor. Okay. All right, go ahead, have a seat. Stick your feet out. Watch your knee. Who's driving? Who's driving the ambulance? Yeah. He's back there now. >> All right, just let him know we're clearing out the path for him, so He's back there, guys. I'll let him know what you want to do if you want They can't wait to take her to the hospital, so they're going to go ahead and go and uh What's wrong with her? They think the car She's just not acting healthy. She's not not acting right. They're not comfortable with it. >> Thomas is Okay. He wanted to get out. Okay. These guys are ready to do their transport. They're about to leave. Okay. Well, I I was just wanting to tell whoever that they're trying to get that path clear for them, so they don't have to back up and stuff. Um can you tell me what happened? Cuz I'm not I've heard a little bit. >> Thomas is his dad, right? >> Right. Biological dad. Okay. All right. He abandoned her in the car. He was in the store for over 40 minutes with her in the car by herself. Yes. That's not good. Can I hug him? Yeah. Okay. This guy No, no, no. I know. I know what you're going through. Uh yes, hold on one second. I don't want you here. The light's starting to hurt. I love her. I love her. I love you. Just don't don't beat yourself up. We'll get in touch, okay? I got to get to the baby. How long you think they'll be? I don't know. You all right up here? Stay strong. Just call me. Mhm. This one's empty. You can Oh, yes. All right, Parker. You ready? Yep. What makes a parent underestimate the danger of leaving a toddler alone, even for just a few minutes? How quickly can one decision spiral? Subscribe for more raw body cam cases.