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Inset: Emily Sabogal (Broward County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The intersection of NW 108th Avenue from NW 50th Street in Sunrise, Florida, where Sabogal allegedly left her kids alone in an Uber (Google Maps).
A Florida woman is facing charges after allegedly leaving her children unsupervised in an Uber for two hours, ignoring repeated attempts by the driver to contact her.
Emily Sabogal, 32, has been charged with child neglect and unlawful child desertion by authorities in Sunrise, Florida. According to an arrest report accessed by Law&Crime, police were dispatched at approximately 11 p.m. on Friday following a report of two children left unattended. The Uber driver had initially picked up Sabogal along with her children earlier that evening.
The affidavit details that Sabogal was holding a cup containing what the driver suspected was alcohol. She reportedly repeated the phrase “he thinks I’m stupid” in Spanish, before allegedly grabbing the driver’s phone and canceling the ride. Subsequently, she handed the driver $10 and instructed him to drive to NW 108th Ave from NW 50th Street, where she requested the driver to stop, the affidavit states.
Sabogal then exited the vehicle, assuring the driver she would return shortly, according to the report. Police noted that she walked out of sight, effectively abandoning her two children and exposing them to potential danger by leaving them with a stranger. Officers observed that the children appeared unperturbed and were even playing during the incident.
After an hour passed, the Uber driver attempted to contact Sabogal, who replied that she would return in “12 minutes,” as per the affidavit. However, she failed to return and subsequently stopped responding to the driver’s calls. After two hours, the driver decided to contact 911 for assistance.
Sabogal “showed that she had no intent on returning due to her lengthy absence,” the affidavit stated.
Cops observed the kids to be in good health, although they said they were thirsty and hungry.
“I provided them with food and water as they also expressed concern for their mother,” cops wrote.
Officers found Sabogal walking near a McDonald’s more than 2 miles away and took her into custody. She could not explain why she left her kids alone or how she arrived at McDonald’s, according to police.
Cops spoke with staff at Bob G’s Wings N Things, a local restaurant, who confirmed Sabogal was at the establishment with her kids earlier in the night. Staff told cops that the defendant “enjoyed multiple alcoholic beverages at the bar” as her children were running around unsupervised.
Sabogal smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech, police allege. She was arrested and taken to the Broward County Jail where she has since posted bond. The children were released to a family member.
The father of the children told local ABC affiliate WPLG that this wasn’t the first time Sabogal has behaved erratically. He said he was “very concerned” for the safety of his kids.
“Moving forward, she needs help. I don’t understand how someone in their right mind would do something like this,” he told the TV station. “She’s obviously not OK, and this needs to end.”