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Father arrested after toddler and baby left in hot car

Woman notices infant crying and calls police
Posted at 4:29 PM, Jul 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-23 16:30:25-04

KOKOMO — It was 85 degrees outside at 2:45 p.m. Monday when police got a call to check on two children in a car left in the parking lot of a Kokomo sporting goods store.

A woman had gotten out of her vehicle and heard a baby crying inside a car that was running with no adult around. She called 911.

Police came and found a baby girl and her toddler sister in the KIA which was running and had no air conditioning.

Soon the father, 25-year-old Michael Beyelia of Tipton arrived at the car, saying he had been inside the store 15 to 20-minutes to price some clothing. According to a police report, Beyelia did not seem remorseful and did not share in the urgency of the situation.

By then, the children had been placed in an ambulance to cool down. They were sweating when taken out of the car.

Beyelia, who told police his wife was at work, was arrested at the scene. According to Howard County Circuit Court records, he faces two counts of neglect of a dependent.

Beyelia is scheduled to be in court next week.