A man has been charged with child abuse for leaving his nine-month-old daughter in his car while he made an afternoon visit to a strip club in Los Angeles.
Auwin Dargin, 24, is alleged to have left the baby for around an hour while he visited Synn Gentleman’s Club in Panorama City earlier this month.
Local news stations reported that people near the club heard the baby crying and opened the door to rescue her before calling the police.
The incident happened in the middle of the afternoon with temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (25 C).
Police said he parked the car a few blocks away and walked to the club.
In a statement, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said: "The baby was found alive in the car by employees of the club and a neighbouring business who then rescued her and allegedly confronted Dargin as he stepped outside of the club."
The baby, who was reported to have suffered mild dehydration, was later returned to her mother.
Senior Lead Officer Charles Chacon told NBC4 that Mr Dargin said he "was not thinking" at the time of the incident.
"I thought it was unbelievable. I could not believe a father would put his child in that type of danger," Officer Chacon said.
Mr Dargin, who lives in the Van Nuys area north of Los Angeles, has pleaded not guilty to one count of child abuse. He is due to return to court next month.
Prosecutors say if he is convicted he could face a maximum sentence of six years in a state prison.
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