Phoenix-area couple abandons toddler son to play Pokemon Go
Aug 1, 2016, 7:24 AM | Updated: 11:32 am
(Pinal County Sheriff's Office Photos)
(Pinal County Sheriff's Office Photos)
PHOENIX — An Arizona couple has been charged with child endangerment after leaving their toddler home alone so they could play Pokemon Go.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said Brent and Brianne Daley were arrested last week at their San Tan Valley home. They admitted they left the boy sleeping to play the popular location-based interactive smartphone game.
The boy was by himself for nearly 90 minutes in temperatures was about 95 degrees that night. A neighbor called authorities Thursday around 10:30 p.m. to report seeing the 2-year-old outside the house crying and trying to get back into the house.
The neighbor said the parents didn’t appear to be home.
Deputies said after they brought the boy inside — the front door was unlocked — they confirmed he lived there based on photos around the house. They called a phone number they found and a man answered.
When a deputy told the man they had found an abandoned child, authorities said the man answered, “Whatever” and hung up.
The Daleys returned an hour later and were taken into custody.
They told police they had gone to gas up the car and then drove around the neighborhood playing the game.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety took over care of the boy, who was barefoot and wearing a diaper and T-shirt when found.
