Cops: Tot Spotted Drinking Beer, Dad Arrested

An Orange County father was arrested, after his 18-month-old child was spotted drinking beer, according to deputies.

Orange County deputies showed up to Elvin Garcia's home Saturday night, after a neighbor called 911 after seeing the toddler drinking from beer bottles alone in the front yard.

“There were bottles around the front porch and he was just picking them up, drinking out of them,” said eyewitness Debbie Robinson.

According to the arrest report, Garcia was sleeping while the child was outside.

“They could see him in the trailer there with his legs hanging out the door... just passed out I guess,” said Robinson.

Investigators managed to wake up Garcia, and arrested him for child neglect. He made his first appearance in court Sunday morning.

Neighbors said this isn't the first time the baby has been left to wander around, and they said they hope something is done to make sure the child doesn't get hurt.

“I think it's terrible. Something should be done about it and it doesn't matter who it is. If they can't take care of their child, they should have their child taken up,” said neighbor Marge McGregor.

The Department of Children and Families described Garcia's home as "deplorable." A spokeswoman said investigators are working to figure out how things got so bad at the home.

An emergency hearing is scheduled for Monday morning at the Juvenile Justice Center in Orlando, so a judge can decide who takes long-term custody of the baby.