Altoona man charged for leaving girlfriend’s children in locked car, police report

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two undressed children in a locked car at a grocery store led to charges being filed against their mother’s boyfriend, police reported.

Justin Michael Davis, 22, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police were called to Giant Eagle in Altoona Saturday, July 6.

Logan Township police reported in the charges filed that they were called about two children in a locked car that seemed to keep turning off and starting again while a man, later identified as Davis, was inside the store.

After arriving at the scene, police were told Davis had left. He was found shortly after on 17th Street and pulled over, according to the criminal complaint. Police said that Davis claimed he was getting money from Citizens Bank inside the store and it was only a few minutes and the car was left running with the air conditioner on. Davis went on to say he didn’t think the kids, a 3-year-old and 18-month-old, were allowed inside. Police noted the 3-year-old was in just underwear and the other in just a diaper.

Police called the children’s mother who Davis said was his girlfriend. She alleged that he was pulling money for the babysitter and it should have only been a couple of minutes, charges read.

While dealing with Davis, another officer was talking to a witness at Giant Eagle who claimed she was in the parking lot for 20-25 minutes, observing the children alone in the car. The officer said they also spoke with a bank employee who said Davis had an appointment to open up a secondary bank account at 1 p.m., however, he showed up around 12:35.

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Police noted in the criminal complaint that the 911 call came in at 1:20 p.m., showing the children were left in the car for roughly 45 minutes.

Davis was charged and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

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