Pennsylvania: Child left in car in Parx casino lot

Man jailed for leaving child in car in Parx casino lot
By Sandy Bauers

Inquirer Staff Writer

A 29-year-old local man was arrested and jailed Saturday after security officers at Parx Casino in Bensalem discovered a 6-year-old child unattended in a locked car in the parking lot.
Bensalem police said Sunday no one was available to provide details. However, Parx spokeswoman Carrie Nork-Minelli confirmed the incident.

According to news reports, the man was gambling in the casino at the time. The child had been in the car for less than 10 minutes and was unharmed.

"Our security identified the situation within mere minutes," Nork-Minelli said. "The most important thing was that the child was OK."

The man was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person, and was arraigned late Saturday before District Judge M. Kay Dubree, whose office is in Ottsville. Bail was set at $75,000, and he was sent to Bucks County Prison, according to news reports.

Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said Sunday that because the case was handled in district court, he did not yet have details.

Nork-Minelli said casino staff was vigilant about such situations.

Nine similar incidents were reported at the casino last year between June 15 and Oct. 11. More recent information was unavailable.