10-month-old infant, dog locked in hot car
Anderson, IN (US)Incident Date: Monday, Sep 14, 2009
County: Madison
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Kevin J. Bermes
A man arrested Monday is charged with leaving an infant and a dog locked inside a hot car while he gambled at Hoosier Park.
Kevin J. Bermes, 23, Indianapolis, was in the Madison County Jail on Tuesday on charges of neglect of a dependent and animal cruelty.
According to an Anderson police probable cause affidavit, police arrived to find Hoosier Park personnel around a vehicle in the parking lot, where 10-month-old Brook Bates was locked inside beneath a coat and hooded sweatshirt. A full-grown boxer dog also was in the car, panting heavily, the report says.
The temperature when police arrived between 9 and 10 a.m. Monday was 78 degrees, but the temperature inside the car was estimated to be above 100 degrees.
Police called a wrecker service to gain entry to the 2006 Pontiac Gran Prix. They also contacted Child Protective Services.
“I noted the condition of the victim as having red cheeks and she was sweating,” according to the report by arresting officer Scott Calhoun.
“A few minutes after getting the door open and the child out of the car, the father (Bermes) approached,” the affidavit says.
Bermes told police that he was supposed to meet his girlfriend at the casino, where she was to take the child. “At one point he said he went inside to look for his girlfriend and then stated he was playing slots and lost track of time,” according to the report.
Hoosier Park security reviewed surveillance video of the parking lot and determined that the child and dog were left unattended in the car for more than an hour, the affidavit said.
The child was returned to the custody of her mother and the dog was taken to the Anderson Animal Shelter.
Bermes was held on $5,000 bond. References |
