what a dweeb.  Some people just do not need to be a parent.  On the other hand, there are a lot of people who ignore responsibilities of being a parent.  Either way, its a lose/lose situation for the children.

TO ME I THINK THE GUY GOT WHAT HE DESERVED CAUSE ANYONE IN THIER RIGHT MIND WOULD KNOW NOT TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN A TRUCK WHEN IT IS 27 DEGREES OUT. JUST FOR HIM TO SAY THAT HE THOUGHT HIS KIDS WOULD BE SAFE CAUSE OF THE CAMERA. ME I'M A MOTHER OF FOUR AND I WOULD NEVER LEAVE MY KIDS IN A COLD CAR

This is ridiculous. Those kids were in no danger.

Talk about an overreaction by the fuzz. This one takes the cake.

Since when is sitting in a cold car for a few minutes "life threatening"??? It's nothing like an infant being left in a car in 100 degree temps ... where the interior temp will rise very quickly to 120 - 130.

Besides, you idiots, these kids weren't "infants" ... all they had to do was get out of the car if it was a problem.

Say, all you intellectual giants, what if the father had told them to stand outside of the store & wait ... would that be a crime???

I grew up in Toronto and used to be playing outdoors all day long when I was a kid, in temps a whole lot colder than 27.

The rampant stupidity in this town is amazing!

Skinny Bill, what in the hell are you smoking, you totally forgot about someone could have came in the car and snatch those kids, have you thought about that?  Then you make a dumb statement saying if the kids were cold they could have got out, ok say if they did, where would they go, who is going to watch over them, And Im not suprised by your off the wall comments, canadians way of thinking seems to go to a place where no man has gone before,

The facts are woefully inadequate in this story.  

How long were the kids in the car? What was the temp of the car? How were the kids dressed?

My parents left me in the car with my siblings for a few minutes before.  Now that was the 60's and Memphis was a different place but hey a  few facts would be nice. I wouldn't leave my girls in a car but they can be intimidated into opening a door, my brother and I would not have been.

When it is 27 out and your car is in the sun the temps aren't that bad, especially if it was already warmed up.

I hope this isn't some knee jerk jackboot cop reaction to kids sitting in a car for 10 minutes while he ran in to make a return, but I sure would like to know the facts before I make a decision.  

FWII leaving your children alone for hours is only justified if you are going to the casino or a New Years Eve Party.

6 and 5 is too young to be left alone in a car, hot or cold, for any length of time...especially in this day and age.  

I totally agree with you, Skinny Bill.

Skinny Bill, 27 degrees is below freezing. Why couldn't he do the responsible thing and either take his children in the store with him or leave them at home with their mom or relatives. Also you stated that they should have gotten out of the car...and what risk getting hit by a car while trying to make it in the store.  In weather that cold, i wouldn't even leave my dog out, but that's the difference between responsible and not. And East Memphis, you're right, these are very different times. You can not leave your children unsupervised, not even for a second. Things happen and children get kidnapped all the times.

On another note, Skinny Bill you post all the time about how irresponsible black parents are and how the black race fails to protect, watch and nurture their children. Don't you beleive this man was just as irresponsilbe or does his color make it better for you??? Granted in this case, no child was killed, but it could have very well been the case if no one was around to see this.

As I said earlier, waiting in a car for a few minutes when the outside temp is 27, is hardly "dangerous" or life threatening.

Have you idiots no common sense at all????

Say ... now, that I think of it ... where would you dolts draw the line on the "proper temperature", eh???

30°, 35°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70° ... Now, what is it???

Give me a "safe temperature".

me said

"On another note, Skinny Bill you post all the time about how irresponsible black parents are and how the black race fails to protect, watch and nurture their children. Don't you beleive this man was just as irresponsilbe or does his color make it better for you???"
------------------------

Color has nothing to do with this.

I don't think it was irresponsible to have your kids sit in a car, for a few minutes, on a winter day.

I think the person who called, and the cops wo arrested the man, are raving idiots.

This guy will make a monkey out of those cops in court.

Sitting in a car for a few minutes, on a 27° day is "life threatening"???

Very LARGE BREAAAAK, puhleeze!

Skinny, there is no safe temp to leave your children in a car. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN A CAR NO MATTER THE SEASON.

And you are correct, color has nothing to do with this incident, just as it has nothing to do with all the other irresponsible parents who have failed to properly protect their children. I just assume that color would have played a part in this incident, because on another post you stated that ALL black people were idiots and did not take care of their children.You stated that blacks have children for checks. You further stated that only black people did things like this. You even went on about how only black people left their children to die in cars and burn in houses. I just wanted to know if you felt differently about this one..........Oh but i see you do. In your eyes he did nothing wrong.

Do you know how many chilren are kidnapped anually because a parent just left them in the car for a few seconds???? Do you know what can happen when you leave a 5 and 6 year old together????? Children are curious by nature. They try things.  And in the summer.....heat kills children, but guess what below freezing temps kill children too.

Obvisiouly he was in the store more than a few seconds. A woman had time to see the children, and  call the police. The police had time to respond. They further had to place the children in his patrol car to keep warm and WAIT for this man to exit the store. Beleive me, that took more than 10 min.

Now my question is, was he irresponsible?????

THIS IS TO SKINNY BILL......FOR ONE IT HAS NEVER SAID HOW LONG THE KIDS WAS LEFT IN THE TRUCK.CAUSE IT NEVER DID SAY HOW LONG HE WAS INSIDE WALMART. IN PERSON IN THERE RIGHT MIND THAT IS A PARENT THAT THEY KNOW NOT TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN A CAR OR AT HOME ALONE

WE GREW UP GETTING LEFT IN THE CAR, A LITTLE MORE RISKY TODAY? PERHAPS , NOT AS IF HE LEFT THEM IN A HOME WHILE HE WENT OUT FOR THE NIGHT TO PARTY, I MEAN NOBODY WOULD EVER. . . LET THE GUY OUT & GIVE BACK HIS KIDS AT LEAST THEY'RE ALIVE

It doesn't matter how cold or hot it is outside they was too young to be left by themselves because if someone would do something to them they're too small to defend for themselves sometimes i don't want to leave my 15 & 11 old in the car by themselves and they are big enough so sometimes u have to use common sense

skinny bill, you are a compleate moron for thinking that these kids were in no danger. I pray to god that you have no children. As for the thought of the kids getting out of the car, ya thats really intelligent. can we say speed bump, or worse? Your such a loser.

I agree this guy should be arrested and not allowed to be a parent. Thank God these children were okay. What I don't understand is; why aren't parents arrested when they "forget" their child in a hot car and the child dies? It is insane that some "parents" get away with abandoning/forgetting their child in a car and get a slap on the wrist. They should all be arrested. I have never "forgotten" one of my children anytime, anywhere, and I never will.

The Tennessee law reads:   In Tennessee, a person can be charged with child abuse and neglect when they knowingly expose a child or fail to protect a child from a situation that could cause harm. The law applies to all children under age 18 and the law becomes a felony when a child is six years or younger.  I've heard no one mention what a Felony record for the father will do to these children, let alone the expense of a trial. Police records impact the children far worse than the risk of being kidnapped. How many times week do we in Memphis hear about a "jacking" where the parent and children are in the car and this does nothing to dissuade the thieves. This law makes all the arresting officers and the lawmakers criminals for putting the children in danger.


Save/Share Story
digg reddit
newsvine Google
del.icio.us Yahoo!







Ads by Google What's this?
Stop Teen Dating Violence
Preventing Teen Dating Violence.Browse Our Articles Now!
www.LifeScript.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Middle School Bullying
School-wide bullying prevention.Peacemakers award-winning program!
www.solution-tree.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pepper Spray Clearance
Powerful 17% Formula. Only $5.99Stun Guns, Alarms, Diversion Safes
www.novasecurityplus.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gang Prevention/Education
Information on gangs/how to helpResearch-Prevention-Intervention
www.helpinggangyouth.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teen Violence
Free Forum For The Discussion OfTeen & Youth Violence In America
www.crimevictimsforum.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Email Story
To Email:  To Email is Required. A valid email address is required.  
Your Name:  Your Name is Required.
Your Email:  Your Email is Required. A valid email address is required.  
Message:  
Send a copy to my email
 

You can send a story to multiple email addresses by separating the email addresses with a semicolon (;)

This station will not store your email address or your recipient's email address or use them in any way.

Eyewitness news should take a closer look at the date of December 2, 2008 in the story of the children being left in car. December 2,2008 is not here yet.

I was coming out of  walmart when this incident occured and the person that actually made the call to the police approached me and expressed they had to do what they had to do. Also after hearing  so much exposure about kids being left in vehicles and quite often with a negative outcome.

I was in agreement the right thing was done because this particular day the temperature was frigid. However I have no clue how long the children were  left in the car. The father probaly felt he would be in the store a few minutes and come straight out.   But leaving kids in a car even for a few minutes is never good practice

so, what a minute. what about when you send your kids to school. They are exposed to the actual elements then.
Are they going to call off school when the temps are under 32F and over 110F?
Your placing your youngones in danger of the elements.
What about thunderstorms and tornados? They could get struck by lightning or hit my flying debris?
Meanwhile, there is a child in someones basement that is not getting fed or water and this guy gets charged.
Love it.

Leave the man alone it could have been worse,he could have left them home alone to maybe even got caught in a house fire but he didnt, i am sure he Love his kids and are very sorry for what he did and by now taking this incident as A lesson learned.

This guy gets charged with child abuse for leaving his kids in a cold car for twenty minutes and nothing happens to them and another guy leaves his little girl in a hot car for two or two and a half hours, the child dies and he's charged with nothing.  There's something wrong with this picture.

 
DFlemon0604

So he left those kids in a cold vehicle no harm done right......  What if they were your kids?  What if they were your kids and someone stole the vehicle and they were still missing.

There is a nut case in New Jersey That just escaped the Death Penalty for that very same thing.  He stole a vehicle with a child in it.  Raped, murdered the child and drank the babies blood.  And since he have served 18 yrs in prison already he is needs to serve 5 more years and he is a free man.

The man needs to be prosecuted under the law so crimes like this send a message you are responsible for your own incompetence.

The woman who called the police should have minded her own business!!!!!!
That man wasn't trying to be cruel to his kids. He would have been cruel if he never came back.
like he said , he thought that it would have been quicker if he just ran in there for a minute and come right back out. Yeah it was cold but the kids had on coats. In the winter when it snows everybody let their children go out and play in it and it's colder than that.  We learn from our mistakes and people are so quick to judge. For everything that God allows there is a reason. We all have done things that we shouldnt have but taken a chance anyway. Give the man a break and give him his children back!!!!

Ok lesson learned, now give the man his children back!!!!!!!!!
Only God can judge him!!!!!
Who are we to judge?????
We all are suppose to have a drivers license to drive, but do all of us have one?
You are all taking this way out of hand.
Lot of you beat your children with xtension cords, belts, sticks, shoes etc. you could accidently kill them.
Give this man his children back!!
Aint Nobody Perfect!!!
Sit and ask yourself what are some things I have done and had to learn a lesson from it.  

Striving

There are many things that have done but my children safety is not one I would jeopardize. you are like many others would like to give a psst on something so similarly simple.

What if the car was struck by a drunk driver and the kids killed.  My vehicle was Total in a Wal-Mart parking lot by a drunk driver killing my dog in December had I thought this would happen I would have left him home.

As the saying goes: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we will all be happy as children.

Prosecute..... Just like I got a ticket for not having my dog secured in a harness or cage...Who knew.

Nothing happened to the kids....they are fine....they wernt abused in any way.  Eyewittness should focus more on cases where the child has been physically harmed there are many cases out there instead of focusing on a man who leaves his kids in a car for a few minutes!!  Atleast he wastn at a New Years party when his house caught fire!!!  Neglect would have been leaving the kids home alone!!  It wasnt all too long ago that I was young and my mother left me in the car to run in somewhere!!  And when I was in school if the temp was under 24 we were to be outside!  So the temp should not be much of an issue!!  For those of you mentioning the possibility of them being hit by a drunk driver.....that can happen when the father is present and driving down the road and the chances are a little higher on the road than in a parking lot!

AMBER85

I have considered you posted comments and my thoughts are these, when you leave a child in a car by themselves a few minutes can seem like eternity to a child.   If a sexual predator had been on a prowl that could have very well been their young life.

Did you know by FBI statistic's that at any given time there are 60 serial killers walking the streets in the United States every day.   Do you think Shawn Tanner  considered this?

He could at least taken the children with him.  He could have at least used better judgment.  He could have at least called a friend to help him or even contacted the store manager for assistance.

Shawn and Aundria used poor judgment the difference death occurred for person  poor choice.  Both are responsible for their actions and neither should be let off the hook.  Or did you know a child goes missing every 40 seconds in the United States.  At least you could have looked up the facts.

Did you know that 17,957 people died in drunk driving accidents 6,342 of them happen in parking lots.  2,100 of them involved children between the ages of 2yrs and 14 yrs of age that was left in an unattended vehicle.

You should "At least" consider research before posting your ideals, but heck this is a free country and the U.S. Constitution First Amendment gives you that right.............

At least it didn't pertain to your family or children

 Static said:
AMBER85

Did you know that 17,957 people died in drunk driving accidents 6,342 of them happen in parking lots.  2,100 of them involved children between the ages of 2yrs and 14 yrs of age that was left in an unattended vehicle.



Source of facts please.

My point is not that it doesnt happen.  I said it could just as well happen while driving down the road!  So if a child wanders off in the mall, walmart etc... by accident and they are taken by a predator....Should the parent also be charged for neglect as well?  Probably so but in most cases they arent! Or what if your kid is taken from your backyard??  If hes going to be charged so should many others out there!!!

Static.

I am still looking for your facts.  Where did you get your numbers?

   
Bartlettman


No....The information is out there you have to do the leg work.  I usually do all the homework but not this year.

New year... New Name.....
 
AMBER85
Let the charges fit the crime.... Neglect is neglect no matter the age.

When a child goes missing
Does a child go missing in the United States every forty seconds?
Missing Children Statistics

“…A child goes missing every 40 seconds in the U.S, over 2,100 per day

In excess of 800,000 children are reported missing each year

Missing 20 year old, Brooke Leigh Henson disappeared from a small town in South Carolina in 1999. Though not a child, had she gone missing today, she may have been entered into the NCMEC database, similar to missing 20 year old Donna Jou under this provision.

   SPECIAL NOTE: This case was initiated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5779. The individual pictured on this poster was reported missing when he or she was between the ages of 18 and 20. Law enforcement has entered this case in the FBI National Crime Information Center database and has asked NCMEC to

in other words you made it up....thought so

   
Bartlettman

No.... Don't have to make up anything the information is out there, what are you just to tired to find the information?

In the past we had agreed on on different issues including this lame duck Mayor Herenton.  Now because I won't give you no. Do the work for you my source is invalid you are beginning to sound like a disgruntle school boy that can't solve the math with out the answer or someone doing it for you.

I'll tell you this since it's hard to find..... try variations of drunk driving fatalities and cross check states break downs of deaths and add up the numbers you find per state there is a specific listing of age and places of accidents.

Is that better you seemed  to have been a smart person in the past what happen, the information is out there I am not making it easier any more either you can believe or not it's your call.....

Black woman leaves kids to party in which they died - White guy leaves kids in cold car. Stupidity is universal. 'Nuff said.

@ Oh Yeah......you are right!  Stupidity knows no color!  

Police: Couple Arrested After Children Found Living In Filth

CLEVELAND -- A Cleveland couple was arrested Tuesday for child endangering.

Investigators said they found a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old covered in filth and possibly ate cat and dog *** at a West 13th Street home.

Police were called by a witness who said the house was in disarray and filthy.

Police arrested 23-year-old mother Kelly Szakacs and 24-year-old father Jarrett Turney and they are now in police custody.

The children are staying with their grandmother.


You are quite right ignorance knows no color.....

This is to static the comment you gave me was not neccesserry because, I never think negative thoughts for they bring negative vibes.Some people dont have support systems and I am one of them sometimes we have to do what we have to do just to get by.Un like some people that has it all maybe thats you ,well i got nothing to each his own.

 
DFlemon0604

I WILL SAY THIS WHEN I BARELY HAD MONEY TO PAY MY RENT AND MY CHILD SUPPORT WAS DUE I PAID THAT AND TOOK THE CHANCE OF BEING EVICTED I DID THIS THREE TIMES.

THREE YEARS AGO I LOST EVERYTHING BUT MY WILL TO KEEP GOING AND I PERSEVERED YOU WANT THE BEST MAKE BETTER CHOICES GET THE DEAD WEIGHT OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

AND NEVER GIVE UP.. NEVER.. FOR WHEN YOU DO THIS YOU WOULD HAVE FAILED THE ONLY PERSON THAT REALLY CARED YOURSELF.

THIS FROM A BLACK MAN THAT IS MOVING IN A NEW HOME TODAY YOU HAVE TO BE GOAL ORIENTATED TO ACHIEVE.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITY'S AND YOU WILL SEE THINGS ARE NOT REALLY THAT HARD, JUST A LITTLE DIFFICULT....

THAT IS THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE......

Well you are right, you have to keep going and striving to make it on your own,right now i am still pushing and by the grace of GOD I am still trying to servive these streets I thought it was hard but it's only hard if you alow it to be.I am A Determined 37 year old african american female and I have experenced struggle and still is as I type.

If he was charged why isn't the bus driver that left the 6 year old locked on a school bus charged...She was just suspended seems to me like a double standard. It was colder today then it was when he done it, he was only out of the vehicle for 25 minutes this little boy wasn't found until 2 hours later. Both were in the wrong...But we trust these people with our children. WHY? Tracy