WATERFORD LAKES, Fla. – A 34-year-old man has been arrested after troopers say his two-month-old boy was left alone inside a car in the parking lot.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a trooper that was working an off-duty detail at the Best Buy in Waterford Lakes was notified at 5:30 p.m. Thursday about the small infant left alone in a locked car.
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The trooper approached the vehicle and saw that the infant was asleep in a car seat in the back seat of the locked car.
FHP said the trooper went back to the shoppers in line and made an announcement, attempting to find the owner of the vehicle.
After about ten minutes when no one came forward, authorities said the trooper broke the window and retrieved the 2-month-old boy. Troopers said the boy appeared lethargic and paramedics were called.
Shortly after, troopers said 34-year-old Haider Hassan Khudhair Darwash returned to the vehicle and identified himself as the father.
When the trooper asked why the infant was left alone in the car, Darwash said that he thought his wife had the child. Troopers said the wife was standing in line at a business in the Waterford Lakes Town Center.
FHP said Darwash was arrested for felony child neglect.
The Department of Children and Families was called and responded to the incident. Troopers said the child was unharmed and was not taken to the hospital.
Darwash was booked into the Orange County Jail.