A Colorado father was arrested after allegedly leaving his 2-year-old daughter alone on a second-floor balcony while wearing only a diaper, and then refusing to come back when police called him about the child's cries for help.
Background
The Boulder Police Department released body camera footage showing officers climbing over a fence and onto patrol cars to reach the girl after a neighbor reported hearing her calling for help just after 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday, according to the department's Facebook post. Officers found the child unharmed but too young to be alone.
Inside the home, police said they discovered a large amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia within reach of the girl on a coffee table. They were able to identify and call her father, who told officers his daughter was asleep when he walked out to get food, according to BPD officials.
The Investigation
The father refused to return home during that phone conversation, police said. Officers changed the child's diaper, helped her dress, and brought her back to BPD headquarters, where they cared for her until contacting her mother. They then drove the girl to her mom's residence in Denver.
The following night, officers located the father at a Boulder bar with nearly 15 grams of cocaine in his pockets and a large amount of cash, according to BPD officials. While being taken into custody, body camera footage captured him telling arresting officers, "Y'all are f—ing too good at your job, man."
Police have not disclosed what charges the man faces, only that he has been arrested.
Key Takeaways
- A 2-year-old girl was found alone on a second-floor balcony in Boulder, Colorado, wearing only a diaper and calling for help.
- Officers rescued her after climbing over a fence and onto patrol cars; they later found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the home within reach of the child.
- The father refused to return when police called him about his daughter's situation.
- He was arrested the next night at a bar with nearly 15 grams of cocaine and cash on him, according to Boulder PD.
What's Next
The investigation is ongoing. Formal charges have not yet been announced by the Boulder Police Department or prosecutors.