KISSIMMEE, FL – A Florida man faces child neglect charges after allegedly abandoning his 10-year-old daughter on the side of a bustling roadway late at night. Residents of Central Florida were shocked at the news on Tuesday.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office report, an emergency call regarding an unattended child brought a deputy to West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee shortly before 1 am. The deputy found a visibly distraught and crying girl at the locale.
The sheriff’s office revealed that the girl was in a frantic state and ran to the patrol car immediately. She informed the deputy that she was walking to her grandparents’ house after her father, 30-year-old Hector Serrano, Jr., seized her cell phone and left her near Scott Blvd. and Cane Island Loop. At this point, the girl’s increasing distress prevented her from providing additional information.
Eyewitnesses reported witnessing Serrano allegedly “throwing” the girl and her belongings out of his truck, with some objects hitting the visibly upset and crying girl. Serrano then reportedly sped away towards Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. An eyewitness followed Serrano’s Toyota Tundra as it ran several red lights and almost collided with another vehicle, eventually being pulled over near West Irlo Bronson and Old Lake Wilson Road.
The sheriff’s department noted in its report that Serrano attempted to justify abandoning his daughter “out of fear” following an argument with her grandparents over visitation rights. He reportedly claimed he received midnight text messages threatening police involvement if he did not return the child home.
However, the sheriff’s office underscored the unacceptable nature of Serrano’s decision, pointing out that the walk back home would have taken about 21 minutes. They charged him with child neglect for leaving his daughter “unsupervised at an unreasonable hour in an unfamiliar area…with no intent to return.”
As of now, Serrano is in police custody. Meanwhile, the child was taken home by other deputies after confirming she was unharmed.