Florida toddler left in car while mom, boyfriend drank in bar: Police | FOX 51 Gainesville

Florida toddler left in car while mom, boyfriend drank in bar: Police

A two-year-old child is safe after Edgewater Police say the child was left alone in a parked car while the mother and her boyfriend were drinking inside a bar. 

Mother ordered to have no contact with child

What we know:

A two-year-old was left alone in a parked car for nearly two hours while the mother and her boyfriend drank inside a bar in Edgewater, according to police.

Police believe the child was left unattended in the car for nearly two hours until a woman saw the two-year-old and called 911.

Court documents state the officer who pulled the child from the car described them as crying and their legs were cold to the touch as temperatures were in the 50s. 

The mother, Vitucci, and her boyfriend, Harris, were arrested and given a $5,000 bond each. On Wednesday, a Volusia County Judge ordered Vitucci and Harris to stay away from the child.

What we don't know:

It is unclear whether the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) will formally open a case against the parents or why the couple allegedly left the child unattended for so long. It is also unknown if the child has any long-term effects from the incident.

What they're saying:

Police said they were alerted to the situation following a 911 call placed by a woman who saw the unattended child.

"I feel terrible. I’m not sure there’s an actual emergency, but there’s a baby in a car out here by itself," a woman told the 911 operator. "I just don’t want anybody to get mad at me, I just think this is wrong."

During an appearance on Wednesday, a Volusia County Judge ordered Vitucci and Harris to stay away from the child.

"You’re ordered to have absolutely no contact with the listed victim in this case," the judge said. "That means no direct contact, no indirect contact, no third-party contact, no telephone calls, no text messages, no social media."

Vitucci questioned the judge about being released on her own recognizance, but the request was denied.

 "I thought someone just said about me being released on ROR?" Vitucci asked the judge.

"The public defender was arguing for that, but I’m setting bond at $5,000," the Judge said to Vitucci. "I’m not going to release you on your own recognizance."

What's next:

Edgewater Police say the record has been sent to the Department of Children and Families for review and to decide if they will open a case.

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