Couple in Florida Charged with Child Neglect: Police Discover Baby Alone in Running Car

A couple from Florida is facing serious child neglect charges after police found their baby alone, asleep in a running vehicle parked outside a bar. The parents were allegedly inside, consuming alcoholic beverages. This alarming incident took place last Friday night in a parking lot located in Palm Coast. A 911 call alerted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office to a child left unattended inside a car.

Shortly after 10:00 p.m., officers arrived at the scene and were immediately struck by the loud music blaring from the vehicle. Upon investigation, they found the car unlocked, the engine running, and the infant asleep in a car seat that was, according to the sheriff's official statement, "improperly secured."

Initially, the officers contemplated breaking a window to reach the child but soon discovered the car was indeed unlocked, allowing them to access the baby without force. While assessing the child's condition, a 28-year-old woman identified as Clarisse Finnegan exited the bar and approached the car. She identified herself as the mother, stating she had briefly left the bar "to check on the baby" and had gone inside to use the restroom and ask her husband for money for "necessary baby supplies."

Her husband, Norman Finnegan Jr., aged 60, was still inside the establishment and was brought out by officers for questioning. The couple's stories about how long they had been inside the bar conflicted with one another. The discrepancies were further highlighted when multiple witnesses informed authorities they had seen the pair drinking together inside.

One witness mentioned first noticing the vehicle outside the bar at around 10:00 p.m. and observed the man exiting the bar, peering into the car, and then returning inside around 10:15 p.m. This statement suggests that the baby may have been left alone for at least 15 minutes, although authorities are still investigating the precise duration.

Rick Staly, the sheriff of Flagler County, released a statement on social media expressing his disdain for the incident. "It is never acceptable to leave a baby alone in a running vehicle, especially while drinking in a bar," Staly noted. "Such reckless behavior could have resulted in a tragedy. I want to thank the concerned citizen who reported this incident and our officers who acted swiftly to protect this innocent child," he added.

Both parents have been arrested on charges of severe child neglect without causing serious bodily harm, categorized as a third-degree felony in Florida. Norman Finnegan was released after posting a $2,500 bond, while Clarisse Finnegan was released on her own recognizance.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has launched a parallel investigation to assess the child's safety and well-being and to determine if further protective measures are necessary.