Florida couple allegedly left baby in car to drink at bar

PALM COAST, Fla. (TCN) — Authorities recently arrested a couple on suspicion of leaving a baby unattended inside a vehicle while they drank inside a bar.

On the night of July 18, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to the establishment and located an infant sleeping in an improperly secured car seat. Authorities noticed the vehicle was running and unlocked, and the keys were left in the ignition.

According to deputies, while they were examining the baby, 28-year-old Clarisse Finnegan exited the bar and told authorities she owned the car. The woman reportedly further said her husband, 60-year-old Norman Finnegan Jr., was inside the bar.

A witness allegedly noticed the vehicle at around 10 p.m. when she arrived at the bar, and a man came out approximately 15 minutes later, looked inside, and then went back into the bar.

According to the sheriff’s office, Finnegan said she first went to the bar to use the restroom and to get money from her husband to purchase necessities for the baby. She reportedly said she checked on the infant and then went inside the bar to see if her husband was ready to leave. Finnegan Jr. allegedly paid for his tab before his wife went outside and was taken into custody for questioning.

The sheriff’s office said the couple provided conflicting statements about Finnegan’s timing in the bar. Witnesses reportedly claimed they saw both Finnegan and her husband drinking inside the establishment.

Authorities arrested the couple, and they were charged with felony child neglect without great bodily harm. Finnegan Jr. was released on $2,500 bond, while his wife was released on her own recognizance.

Sheriff Rick Staly said, “These two will never receive parents of the year award with this behavior. It’s never acceptable to leave an infant alone inside a running vehicle — especially while inside a bar drinking. This kind of recklessness could have ended in tragedy. I want to thank the concerned citizen who reported this incident and our deputies who acted quickly to protect this innocent child.”

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