A Charleston man has been arrested after allegedly leaving his infant child unattended in a hot car while he spent several hours gambling at a local casino.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a concerned citizen noticed a baby alone in a car outside the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia. The individual immediately called 911 to report the situation, prompting law enforcement to respond to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a six-month-old infant inside the vehicle, which was parked in the casino’s parking lot. The child was reportedly strapped into a car seat and visibly distressed due to the sweltering heat and lack of supervision.
Authorities were able to safely remove the baby from the car and provide immediate medical attention. The infant was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and is said to be in stable condition.
Meanwhile, the child’s father, identified as 32-year-old Marcus Johnson of Charleston, was located inside the casino and apprehended by police. Johnson was taken into custody and charged with child neglect resulting in risk of injury, a felony offense in West Virginia.
According to witnesses, Johnson had been inside the casino for over three hours before authorities intervened. It is unclear how long the infant had been left unattended in the car, but temperatures in the area had exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit that day, posing a significant danger to the child’s well-being.
In a statement to reporters, Sheriff Mike Schuldt of Hancock County condemned Johnson’s actions as irresponsible and dangerous. “Leaving a helpless infant alone in a car, especially in extreme weather conditions, is an unforgivable act of negligence,” Schuldt said. “We are thankful that this child was rescued in time, but this incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended.”
Johnson is currently being held at the Northern Regional Jail on a $10,000 bond. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has been notified of the incident and will be conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
As the story continues to unfold, the community of Charleston is left reeling from the shocking news of a father’s reckless decision to prioritize gambling over the safety and well-being of his own child. Calls for stricter laws and regulations regarding child neglect are mounting, as residents demand justice for the vulnerable infant caught in the middle of this disturbing incident.
