Florida

Central Florida Mom Accused of Leaving 2 Kids in Running Car While She Drank at Bar

A central Florida mother is accused of leaving her two young children alone in her running car while she drank in a nearby bar, authorities said.  

April Renee King, 35, faces child neglect charges after leaving her children, ages 2 and 4, alone in the car, NBC affiliate WESH reported.

Police said King, who has an Oklahoma driver license, was seen drinking at Froggers Grill & Bar in Apopka just before 1 p.m. on Sunday by the general manager and four other people, WESH reported.

King denied that she was at Frogger's and said she only left her kids in the car for a brief period of time to got to a nearby AT&T store. 

The children were not harmed, according to WESH.

King remained in the Orange County Jail on Tuesday. Jail records didn't list an attorney for her.

Video released by police on Wednesday showed officers confronting King during the incident. A child can be seen dropping a handheld breathalyzer in the driver's seat, after blowing into it.

The devices are often installed in the vehicles of DUI offenders. It keeps the vehicle from starting if the driver has been drinking.

King denied using her child to circumvent the vehicle breathalyzer.

"I can tell you the officers are pretty convinced the child has done that before. It appeared he knew exactly what he was doing," Sgt. Ed Chittenden said.

According to police, King's record revealed two DUI's and a recent 54-day stay in alcohol rehab.

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