Mother, boyfriend left girl alone in car while they went to casino, police say

Nancy Joseph, Salomon Baptiste arrested at Seminole Classic Casino

Nancy Joseph and Salomon Baptiste are accused of leaving a 4-year-old girl alone in a car while they were at a South Florida casino.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A mother and her boyfriend face child neglect charges after they left her 4-year-old daughter alone in a car while they were gambling at a South Florida casino, police said.

Nancy Joseph and Salomon Baptiste were arrested Wednesday at the Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.

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Seminole police spokesman Gary Bitner told Local 10 Joseph's daughter was sleeping in the car while Joseph and Baptiste were inside the casino.

The girl woke up and started screaming, Bitner said.

A police officer conducting a traffic stop heard the girl's screams and found her in the car, which was parked in the west lot behind the casino, Bitner said.

The windows were rolled up, the engine was turned off and the doors were unlocked, Bitner said.

Surveillance video showed that the girl was left in the car for at least an hour, Bitner said.

The girl was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital for evaluation. She was then released into the custody of a relative.