A Clermont woman was arrested for child neglect after leaving two kids in her care unattended at a park.
A concerned parkgoer called the police regarding two juvenile boys left unattended in Clermont around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. About 20 minutes prior, he had seen 50-year-old Margaret Marie Fitzpatrick with them at the playground. She then stumbled in the mulch, ran to her vehicle and sped away.
The two juveniles told officers that Fitzpatrick, their babysitter, brought them to the beach to play, but she left without saying anything to them. The officers then got in touch with the juveniles’ father, who later provided Fitzpatrick’s address on Division Street, the report said.
Fitzpatrick was uncooperative with the investigation and claimed the children were playing in the backyard. She ultimately admitted to taking them to the beach, which their father knew about. She also stated they could swim well and did not have an explanation for why they were left unattended, the report said.
The report noted that she told the officers that she had been sleeping when she opened the front door. However, she slurred her words, stumbled and struggled to give simple information as if she was intoxicated.
Fitzpatrick was subsequently arrested on two counts of child neglect and booked at Lake County Jail. The Connecticut native was released after posting $10,000 bond.