Texas man allegedly abandons 6-year-old son while drinking
HOUSTON -- Police are searching for a man who allegedly abandoned a 6-year-old boy outside an adult bookstore in Houston earlier this month.
When Diamond Hawkins started his day of work at a tattoo parlor on March 1, he said he noticed a little boy outside.
"He was sitting in the truck and I didn't pay much attention because we have a business next door that sells cars. I thought his dad was next door buying a car or something," said Hawkins.
Hours went by and Hawkins noticed the boy was still there after someone asked him if the child belonged to one of his customers.
Hawkins added, "He was scared, real nervous, didn't know where his dad was or anything. He wouldn't talk to us at first and once he started talking to us, we got him some food and put a movie on for him."
Charging documents say the father of the 6-year-old, Darnell Washington, left the child alone without food, water or supervision, to visit an adult bookstore.
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Customer Mardee Paige, who was getting a tattoo along with her best friend to celebrate their 70th birthdays said, "That person in my mind shouldn't have a child."
Police interviewed the father who, according to charging documents said he had "been drinking earlier in the day" and said he had "four shots" of whiskey. He added he had "four to five shots of tequila" and claimed he passed out later.
Inside the tattoo parlor employees kept watch over the boy until police and firefighters arrived.
"Thank God for the people who did that. Who knows what would have happened had somebody not brought him over here," said Paige.
They say they didn't see the father until a couple days later.
"He came in and was asking about his car. Wasn't too concerned about the kid but said, 'Hey did you have a car towed, where's my car,'" said Hawkins.
Washington now faces a felony charge of endangering a child.
Police are searching for him to arrest him.
CPS says the boy was taken into their custody initially and has been placed with other members of the family.
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