Cops: Mom left baby in car, drank in bar for 5 hours
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Police in the Lehigh Valley say a Pennsylvania mother left her two-month-old baby in a minivan while she spent hours drinking in a bar, reports CBS Philly.
Lisa Altif, 32, was arrested after police say she left her two-month-old in a cold car while she drank at the Keystone Pub in Bethlehem Township for five hours.
"It was 39 degrees out through the Weather Service, and the baby definitely appeared to be somewhat cold based upon her attire. She was only in a onesie with some light socks and a light blanket on," Township police officer Stephen Malitzki, Jr. said, according to the station.
Police say Altif walked in and ordered her first glass of wine at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. Around 11:30 p.m., someone heard the infant crying.
"Some of our customers came in, heard the baby crying, notified the manager," Savvas Kiprislis, owner of Keystone Pub said, according to the station.
"I did find a car seat strapped to the floor of the car with the actual rear seat removed, in the rear of the minivan. I felt the hood immediately, and it was very cold to the touch," Officer Malitzki said.
Officer Malitzki reportedly walked into the pub asking for the minivan's owner. Altif followed him out and unlocked the vehicle.
"We removed the baby in the car seat and put her in one of our patrol cars until an ambulance could come to check the infant out. We wanted to get her warmed up," the officer said.
Altif initially told police she had only been inside for 20 minutes but later changing her story to 40 minutes, according to the station. Police say she had as many as five glasses of wine and her blood alcohol level was one-and-a-half times the legal limit.
"Someone saw something and said something to us. Those people are heroes. Hopefully that child will be okay...(they) maybe even saved that baby's life," Kiprislis said.
Police have been trying to contact the child's father. The baby is now in the care of Child and Youth Services.
Altif is being held on $40,000 cash bail.