A Connecticut father is facing charges after admitting to drinking heavily and leaving his 3-year-old son in the back of his car overnight, according to police.
Jeffrey Mejias, 22, of Bridgeport, has been charged with risk of injury to a minor.
Police said Mejias admitted he had a lot to drink Friday night before going to pick up the child's mother from work early Saturday morning. Mejias brought the toddler with him.
The car got a flat tire, and Mejias got out and walked home, leaving the 3-year-old asleep in the back seat, according to police.
Police said the boy's mother found another ride home and told them she had assumed Mejias and the child were sleeping in the locked master bedroom.
She was unaware the child wasn't home when officers knocked on the door of Mejias' Arctic Street home Saturday morning, according to police.
A neighbor called 911 after noticing the child crying alone in the car around 7 a.m. Saturday, police said. The child, whose diaper was soaked through, was taken to Bridgeport Hospital to be checked out, cleaned up and fed. Police said the boy was unharmed.
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The boy was released to the care of his mother and the Department of Children and Families was notified.
Court records show Mejias was released from custody on a promise to appear in court. It's not clear if he has an attorney.
No one answered the door at his house Tuesday evening.
