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Jul 2, 2009 7:21 pm US/Central
Kids Left In Car While Mom Drinks In Dallas Bar
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A Dallas man is being credited with saving the lives of three children who were left in a hot car while their mother was inside, drinking at a bar. The incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night at the Lakewood Landing, located in east Dallas.
The mother was sitting on the bar's outdoor patio, drinking alcohol with two companions. Meanwhile, her 11-month-old, 2-year-old and 4-year-old kids were left in the woman's car, without air conditioning. The windows were rolled down, but it was 83 degrees outside.
"It's so obvious, not to do that," comment bar owner Bill Rossell. "I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. These kids are looking out with these big eyes. A bunch of people are out here drinking and these kids with their big, innocent eyes, and there's their mother. And it was the 4-year-old's birthday."
The mom, who has been identified as 23-year-old Asia Thomas, was later arrested for abandoning and endangering the lives of her children.
A man saw what was happening and, after about an hour, called the police. "I did hear crying. Everybody heard crying," he said. The man did not want to be identified. "Everybody would turn and look and go right back to what they were talking about."
"Nobody was taking a stand," the man continued. "They were going to let
those people drive off with the kids, and I just couldn't take it
anymore."
The man said he also called the police because he did not want the mother to drive the kids home after she had been drinking. Thomas said she had consumed three shots and three 16-ounce beers.
Rossell arrived at the bar shortly before police arrived, after police had already been called. He said Thomas told authorities, "She said, 'It's his fourth birthday, and you're going to take me to jail?' Trying to use that as an excuse."
Brian Brown is the father of all three children. He said that he did not learn about the incident until Thursday because he and Thomas have been separated. "She could have took the kids anywhere," he said. "Why leave them in a car? That don't make sense to me. Then you looking over the balcony while drinking shots."
Child Protective Services is currently investigating the case. Brown said that he plans to fight for custody.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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