Child left in SUV while dad ate at restaurant, police say

ATLANTA — A father was arrested and charged after police say he left his baby inside a locked SUV for nearly an hour.

Atlanta police said their officers were flagged down by a parking lot attendant around 12:45 a.m. Friday who noticed a crying child in the back of an SUV at 38 Piedmont Avenue.

About 25 minutes later, the child’s father, Jaccaro Barnes, walked out of the restaurant and was later arrested and charged with cruelty to a child.

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Police said the parking lot attendant knew Barnes but neither he, nor police, could get him to answer the phone. They believe the baby was in the car alone for 45 minutes.

The baby was checked out and cleared by paramedics.

Barnes' uncle got the call from investigators overnight who told him his nephew's baby was left alone in an SUV.

"He just made a bad judgment and that's not something that Jaccaro, well, that I'd ever think he'd do," said the uncle, who did not want to be identified.

Channel 2's Nicole Carr contacted the baby's mother by phone. She said Barnes is a good father.

Barnes' uncle said he fears medication made his nephew anxious.

"That may have been some of what affected his judgment," he said.

Cox Media Group