Manassas Man Charged With Felony Child Endangerment

MANASSAS, VA — A Manassas man was charged with two counts of felony child neglect and public intoxication Thursday when he left two juvenile girls unattended in a car, police said.

Officers received a call at 10:09 p.m. for a suspicious person looking into vehicles in the 8100 block of Pointer Ln. Officers located Terry Wayne Francis Smith, 30, who matched the description, in the area.

During the encounter, officers determined Smith was intoxicated and detained him without further incident. Upon further investigation, officers learned that Smith left two children — a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl — unattended in a nearby parked vehicle, which was left running.

Officers searched the parking lot and located the children unharmed, police said. Following the investigation, the accused was arrested. The children were released into the custody of a family member.

Photo: Manassas Police