Florida woman arrested after leaving 4-year-old at Chuck E. Cheese: report
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida woman is facing child neglect charges after she reportedly left a 4-year-old at a Chuck E. Cheese for hours, according to NBC affiliate WESH.
The West Melbourne Police Department said Sheteria Steadman, the child’s guardian, brought the boy to a birthday party on March 2 but was seen leaving the restaurant without the child, based on camera footage.
“The employees noticed that the child was wandering around and they were not able to locate the guardian of the child so they notified us,” said Lt. Graig Erenstoft with the West Melbourne Police Department.
WESH said Steadman claimed she believed the child was asleep in the car when she left the party, based on the police report.
“When we got there, we were able to review camera footage to determine when the child was dropped off and by who. And then to determine that, when that part left that they did not bring that child with them,” Erenstoft said.
WESH said she left the Chuck E. Cheese around 7 p.m. and returned to retrieve the child after being contacted by police just after 11 p.m.
The child was reportedly taken to the Department of Children and Families that night and, after police conducted interviews, Steadman was arrested on March 4, per WESH.
WESH said Steadman is out on bond and it’s not clear if the child is still in the care of DCF.
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