Dad Leaves Son in Freezing Car Parked in Handicap Spot, Cops Say

HOMEWOOD, IL — A Chicago man who parked his car in a handicap spot and then left his young son alone now faces criminal charges, police said.

Homewood Police responded to the shopping center at 17860 S. Halsted St. after receiving a call about a young child left unattended inside a Red Chrysler 300 around 12:47 p.m. March 1.

Officers also noted the car was parked in a handicap spot and did not display the proper placard, reports said.

All of the the car's windows were rolled down, and police found a young boy inside sitting backwards in the front passenger seat. Police said the car was turned off and there was no sign of a child restraint seat. The temperature outside was recorded at 25 degrees.

After five minutes, a man identified as Kendyri Collins, 26, of the 2400 block of Arthington Street, walked out of a nearby cell-phone store and walked to the car, police said.

Officers questioned Collins, who allegedly told police he he left the boy sleeping in the car because he didn’t want to wake him up while he paid his phone bill.

According to Collins, the boy was only alone five minutes. He further explained that the vehicle is a rental, reports said.

Police spoke to the cell phone store manager, who reported that Collins was inside the store alone for almost an hour.

He was arrested and taken to the Police Department, where the boy was released to his mother. The matter was turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services for further investigation.

Collins is charged with endangering the life or health of a child and cited with a handicapped parking violation. His next court appearance is March 27 at the Markham Courthouse.