Clearwater Police Charge Man With Child Neglect After He Leaves Child In
Locked Car As He Attends Court Hearing
Clearwater Police have charged a man with child neglect after he left his 4-year-old daughter inside a locked car in a courthouse parking lot while he attended a hearing inside.
Dean Baaj, age 51, was taken to the Pinellas County Jail after his arrest.
According to detectives, Baaj arrived at the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., at 8:45 a.m. for a 9 o’clock hearing. He locked the doors and rolled up the windows to his 2004 Mercedes and left his child inside. He left the sun roof open.
About two hours later, a passerby heard the child calling for help and alerted a deputy inside the courthouse.
Clearwater police officers then were called to the scene.
Baaj was questioned and then taken into custody. The child was checked out by fire medics and was found to be OK.
The child was released to the custody of the mother, who was at the hearing at the courthouse as well. According to court records, they were there for a domestic violence injunction hearing.
The temperature outside at the time the child was found was 82 degrees.