A 37-year-old Austin man could be charged with child neglect after police say he left is 4-year-old son alone in the car early Saturday morning while he went into a bar.
Austin Police Chief Paul Philipp said a woman flagged down Officer Mark Walski at 12:21 a.m. and told him there was a small child crying in a car near a bar in downtown Austin.
When Walski opened the car, the boy rushed into the officer's arms and said he had to go to the bathroom.
After taking the boy to the Law Enforcement Center, Philipp said Walski went to look for the man and was approached by a man who claimed to be the boy's father. The suspect told police he had gone to the bar to pick up a friend and went inside for 15 minutes.
Philipp said a breath test measured the man's blood alcohol level at 0.11 percent, above the legal limit. Officers believe the boy had been alone in the car for some time.
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Philipp said the man could be charged with child neglect or endangerment.
