LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – With heat indices reaching around 110 degrees, a 3-month-old baby’s father and aunt allegedly left the infant strapped in a car seat under the scorching sun for over half an hour while they went car shopping in Lauderdale Lakes, Broward County, as per the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
John Polidor, 42, from Margate, and Rose Belony, 40, from Pompano Beach, along with the baby girl, arrived at the Enterprise Car Sales lot located at 2200 N. State Road 7 at approximately 11:20 on a Monday morning.
After being released on bond from jail, Polidor spoke to Bridgette Matter from Local 10 News on Tuesday night. He claimed that he had simply forgotten his daughter was in the car, calling it a mistake, and stating that they completely forgot she was there.
According to the report, while inquiring about purchasing a vehicle, they left the child in the car with their own vehicle parked in the open, engine off, windows rolled up, and a heat index of 109 degrees outside.
After 32 minutes, Polidor brought the baby inside, where a witness described her as “lethargic,” visibly unconscious, and with a sunburnt red face.
When someone attempted to call 911, both Polidor and Belony reportedly discouraged them from doing so, insisting they would take the child home instead.
Witnesses even requested the child’s milk bottle for fluids, but the defendants claimed they didn’t have it with them.
Despite their efforts to prevent witnesses from calling for help, someone eventually dialed 911. Thankfully, the baby did not suffer any serious injuries.
During the bond court proceedings on Tuesday, Belony stated that the incident was a mistake. Both she and Polidor were charged with child neglect without great bodily harm and were given a $15,000 bond.
