Polk County father allegedly left 3-year-old in hot car while grocery shopping

LAKE WALES, Florida. – A Frostproof father was arrested Friday after authorities said he left his 3-year-old son in an overheated car in the parking lot of a Lake Wales grocery store.

Lake Wales police said Sauveur Desulme, 70, was arrested on charges of negligent child abuse without bodily harm and leaving a child unattended in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes.

Officers said they went to Aldi at 753 Thompson Nursery Road after receiving a call from a person who saw the child alone in the car. When they got there, police said, the 3-year-old boy was sitting in a car seat in the back of a 2006 Nissan SUV.

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Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The SUV's windows were open about three inches, allowing minimal airflow. The engine was off, and there were no adults in or near the SUV.

Officers quickly removed the child from the unlocked SUV. According to LWPD, the child was examined by emergency responders and was in good health. However, they confirmed that the three-year-old was extremely hot and drenched in sweat.

Investigators said Desulme left his son in the SUV for more than 20 minutes while he shopped at Aldi. He told investigators he chose to leave him in the car because his son often misbehaves in stores.

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