DENVER — Two parents were facing charges after police said they mistakenly left their baby boy in a car seat on the ground next to an SUV unattended. Police said the baby was in good health and returned to his parents.
“It was horrifying. I couldn’t believe it,” said Christopher Morgan.
Colleagues Christopher Morgan and John Kelley found something unexpected walking through the parking garage at the Woodstream Village Apartments at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
“To the right was an infant car seat on the ground and I walked up, took a look in and a baby was inside,” said Kelley.
“(The) baby was actually asleep in the car seat with an empty baby bottle in his mouth,” said Morgan.
Morgan shot video of the baby police said is four to six months old and called 911.
“The baby was out there for quite a while,” said Morgan.
“The car seat was flipped over. Urine came out and all over the ground. The baby was completely drenched,” said Kelley.
Paramedics took the baby to the hospital.
Morgan and Kelley said two hours later, the baby’s mother Michelle Lesquier ran up to officers. Shortly after, the baby’s father Eldon Cross went outside holding another child and smiling at our camera.
A neighbor said the family has other children and they seemed like good parents.
“The mom goes to work every day. Kids are taken care of as far of what I’ve seen. I’m really surprised,” said Jamel Nubin.
Susan Yates with Children’s Hospital Colorado said even attentive parents can be forgetful at times.
“I think the key thing is to never leave kids unattended no matter what. In or outside the car, we always need to keep our eyes on them,” said Yates.
The men who found the baby said there’s no excuse.
“Five or 10 minutes, I can understand. Three hours, no. That’s wrong, period,” said Morgan.
Police said they’re charging the parents with misdemeanor child abuse. Child protective services were also investigating.
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