March 30, 2012
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD NEGLECT FOR LEAVING BOY IN CAR

A man was arrested Thursday morning by Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies when it was discovered that he had left a 6-month-old boy alone in his car for at least 16 minutes while he went into a Deltona grocery store. David Drysch (1-15-82) was charged with child neglect and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach. The child was unharmed and turned over to his mother who was called to the scene by deputies.

A concerned citizen noticed the unattended child at the Publix Shopping Center parking lot, 915 Doyle Road, at about 8:30 a.m. When she initially couldn’t get into the car to check on the crying boy, she sent her daughter into the store to have an announcement made over the loudspeaker. A moment later, Drysch ran out of the store and retrieved the child to comfort him. Deputies arrived on scene and questioned Drysch, who admitted to leaving the child unattended while he went into the store. He forgot about the boy while he was shopping, he said. When the announcement was made over the store intercom about his vehicle, he said he didn’t understand why until he looked outside and suddenly remembered the child.