Charges filed in case where baby, toddler left in car while man drank
BY DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
Thursday, December 13, 2012
A Broken Arrow man was charged with child neglect Thursday on an allegation that he left a toddler and an infant alone in a vehicle while he drank inside a restaurant.
Jason Daniel Murray, 31, was also charged in Tulsa County District Court with public intoxication and carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Murray is accused of committing the crimes on Dec. 6. On that date, Broken Arrow police responded to a report of possible child neglect at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.
At the scene, officers discovered two small children in car seats in the backseat of a running vehicle that was locked, a police report says.
When confronted by police in the parking lot, Murray denied having left the children in the vehicle, claiming that someone else had placed them in the car without his knowledge, according to the report.
Officers noted that Murray had slurred speech, that his breath smelled of alcohol and that he acknowledged "having a drink inside the restaurant," the report says.
The restaurant manager told police that Murray had been in the bar area while drinking for an estimated 20 minutes, the report indicates.
As he was being taken into custody, Murray informed officers that he was carrying a loaded gun, according to the report. Police said Murray has a concealed weapons license.
The children, a 5-month-old and a 2-year-old, were taken from the scene by their mother. According to the charges filed Thursday, the toddler has a heart defect and is scheduled to have surgery.
