PHILADELPHIA, June 17 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania man was charged with child endangerment after allegedly leaving his toddler strapped in a car with the motor running for an hour, police said.
Donald Waige, 59, of Philadelphia, is accused of leaving his 15-month-old son alone for an hour, strapped in the locked car with the air conditioner on, while he gambled at the Parx Casino in Bensalem for more than hour Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
Bensalem Police Sgt. Andrew Aninsman said Waige was arrested as he walked to his car.
"We know he was in there for an hour and 20 minutes," Aninsman said, adding that although Waige had said the child was asleep, he was crying when police found and freed him.
Waige said he had meant to be in the casino for only 10 minutes to collect a $10 credit on his player's card and that he had not intended to be in the place for so long.
Waige was being held in lieu of $15,000 bond. A family member said Waige, who is not married, he has three older children.
