Sarasota Grandfather, Father Found Passed Out With Kids In Car

SARASOTA, FL -- A grandfather and father have been arrested after being found passed out in a car with two unconscious children in the back seat.

According to Sarasota Police, on Aug. 17 at about 1 p.m., Paul Houle, 51, and Paul Houle III, 22, both of Palmetto, were discovered parked in the 2100 block of Main Street in a Nissan Maxima. According to police, they were passed out drunk in the front seat of the car that was parked directly in the sun with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning.

A passerby noticed them and called 911.When Sarasota Police officers and Sarasota Fire Rescue responded, they discovered two children, ages 4 and 2, in the back seat. The children were unconscious, dehydrated, pale and sweating. The children had no food or water.

All four were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment.

According to witnesses, the men and children were inside the car for 25 to 30 minutes. Both men were under the influence of alcohol at the time. They told officers that the children were left in their care by the biological mother.

Inside the car, officers found two bottles of alcohol and an open beer. The older Houle was also in possession of Dextroamphetamine, a controlled substance.

Both men were arrested and transported to the Sarasota County Jail. The grandfather was charged with two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm and possession of a controlled substance. The father was charged with two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.

Both children recovered and are in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Images via Sarasota Police

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