A woman was arrested on Monday after leaving her four young children in her vehicle while she drank alcohol inside of a lounge, Polk County Sheriff’s Office says.
Deputies responded to a call at the Apple Lounge & Grille at 2803 Recker Highway around 9:19 p.m.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, on arrival, they discovered a 10-month-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, and an 8-year-old boy left alone inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the establishment.
Inside the bar, they found the suspect, Tiffany Shanta Simmons, 36, who appeared inebriated.
Police say an employee informed them that Simmons arrived around 8 p.m. with a young boy.
That employee then informed her that nobody under 21 was allowed inside the lounge to which Simmons responded, “She would take the boy outside to wait with his father.”
Simmons returned to the bar about 15 minutes later and began ordering food and drinks.
Lounge staff discovered the four children while searching the parking lot after becoming suspicious.
PCSO arrested Simmons and she has been charged with four counts of negligent child abuse, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and leaving children unattended in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes.