A 35-year-old mother is being accused of child neglect after she allegedly left her 7-year-old daughter in a car while she was drinking at a local bar before returning several hours later covered in dirt and without shoes.
Veronica Elliott, of DeLand, was arrested by DeLand Police Department officers in connection with the incident, which took place over the weekend.
According to DPD, officers were called to The Perfect Spot Bar located at 1600 Flightline Boulevard at around 2:58 a.m. on Sunday, October 29, in reference to a found child. The child allegedly walked up to the bar in search of her mother.
During their investigation, police determined that the child was left in an unlocked car in a dark parking lot with no lights.
Officers began searching for Elliott, but were unsuccessful.
At around 6:30 a.m., Elliott walked up to officers still at the scene and asked what time it was, according to DPD. Police say that at the time, Elliott was covered in dirt, swaying back and forth, and was missing her shoes.”
Elliott told police she was surprised by the time and that she only meant to be away for 10 minutes. Police say that Elliott spoke with “slurred speech patterns” and that her body movements were “consistent with an individual under the influence” of alcohol or drugs.
Elliott was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail at around 11:26 a.m. on Sunday. She was released on Monday, October 30, at 12:45 p.m. She faces a charge of neglect of a child. According to police, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the child.