Tampa toddler left in car with dog
Charged with child neglect, his mom is accused of leaving him to visit friends for 18 minutes.
By S.I. ROSENBAUM, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007
TAMPA - A woman who left her crying 22-month-old son strapped into a car seat for 18 minutes was arrested Friday night.
Ashley Marie Stoneking, 20, of 8812 Moran Lane, was charged with child neglect for "knowingly and intentionally" leaving her toddler alone in the car with her dog while she visited friends at 4542 Sandpointe Lane, a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy wrote in his report.
About 9 p.m., a security guard saw the dog jumping on the crying child, then looked into the house and saw Stoneking talking with friends on the couch, the deputy wrote.
Stoneking's arrest came after law enforcement officers found children wandering outside alone in two other cases last week.
On Thursday, a passer-by found three children - ages 3, 13 months and 9 months - covered in concrete dust and wearing only diapers, in the road at Himes Avenue near the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway exit.
Tampa police found the mothers of the children, one of whom said she fell asleep as the toddlers were playing in the back yard.
Police and the Department of Children and Families are investigating that incident. The children were unharmed.
On Friday, sheriff's deputies found two toddlers alone outside the Laguna Parks Apartments at 4014 Waters Ave. Relatives later called to claim them.
S.I. Rosenbaum can be reached at srosenbaum@sptimes.com or at 813 661-2442.