A city official in Florida who was accused of leaving a 5-year-old child alone overnight in a city-issued van has seen her criminal case dismissed after the police officer who issued the citation failed to show up for court.
Background
Zonya Ray, the former director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Opa-locka, Florida, transported several children to and from football practice on the night of March 10. According to an arrest report obtained by WTVJ and local CBS affiliate WFOR, around 6 a.m. the following morning, the child was discovered alone in the van in a parking lot after spending more than eight hours inside the locked vehicle.
Police said Ray acknowledged that she did not check the van to ensure it was unoccupied before locking it and going home for the night. She told investigators that she did not realize the 5-year-old had gotten into her van when she left the football practice. Ray stated she realized the child might be inside only after being informed on the morning of March 11 that the child was missing, at which point she returned to the parking lot where authorities had already located the child alone in the vehicle.
The Investigation
On April 30, police issued Ray a citation for leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor charge. Rather than being booked into jail, Ray signed paperwork promising to appear in court. According to WTVJ reporting from the courtroom, Ray appeared for her scheduled hearing, but the Opa-locka police officer who issued the citation did not. Because the issuing officer failed to show up for court, the case against Ray was dismissed.
Despite the dismissal of criminal charges, Ray's employment with the city ended. WFOR reported on June 4 that she was fired from her position as Parks & Recreation director due to the charge. Her name and photo continued to appear on the city's official website as of the report date.
Key Takeaways
- The child spent more than eight hours alone in the locked van before being discovered by authorities the following morning
- Ray told police she was unaware the 5-year-old had entered her vehicle when she left football practice
- Police cited Ray for leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor offense
- The criminal case was dismissed after the issuing officer failed to appear for the court hearing
What's Next
With the criminal case dismissed, no further court proceedings are expected in connection with this incident. Ray's termination from her municipal position remains in effect.
The child's identity has not been publicly released out of privacy considerations.