Catoosa Police body camera footage shows officers arresting a woman who allegedly left her 16-month-old child in her car for more than five hours while she gambled at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
According to police, Dacie Yeager said she was only inside for 20 minutes. However, casino surveillance videos showed the opposite.
Police say this was reckless and irresponsible as a parent. They say Yeager came to the Hard Rock at 9:30 a.m. and did not return to check on her child until police found the child shortly before 3 p.m.
Body camera video shows police rescuing the baby from the car in the casino parking lot. Police say security noticed the running car and found the baby trapped inside. During the police investigation, they say, Yeager ran from the casino.
officer: “Ma’am, stop. Give me your ID quickly.”
officer: “Why do we leave a baby in the car?
Hunter: “I went to look for his father.”
officer: “Why do we leave a small child in the car?”
Hunter: “I went to look for his father.
officer: “I put people in jail for things like this. Why do we leave a small child in the car?”
Hunter: “I was literally unconscious…”
officer: “We need to make sure this child is okay.”
Hunter: “I am a nurse.”
officer: “Is the child okay?”
“The mother said she delivered the child prematurely, it had a medical issue, a feeding tube that had not been taken care of, and when they got to the hospital the child had a dirty diaper,” said Police Chief Ronnie Benight of the Catoosa Police Department.
According to police, Yeager told them various stories about the incident. However, police said casino staff reviewed surveillance video and it showed Yeager entering the casino that morning and never leaving.
Officer: “Did you play a little when you came here?”
Yeager: “Yes…”
Chief Benight says that unfortunately they do investigate cases where children are accidentally left in cars. However, he says this was intentional, which makes matters worse.
“How irresponsible can you be? If you have a problem, get help. Especially if it gets to the point where you are endangering your children,” said Benight. “Someone could break into your car and steal it, the car could break down, the air conditioning could break down,”
Yeager was released from jail on bail, but is now facing child neglect charges. Police say the child is doing well and is now in the custody of Child Protective Services.
