Truesee's Daily Wonder

Boy left in car while stepdad hunts for drugs, police charge

Donald Vicente II of Coopersburg allegedly forgot where he parked in Philly

Tracy Jordan

THE MORNING CALL

September 15, 2009

31-year-old Coopersburg man went in search of drugs in North Philadelphia and left his 6-year-old stepson waiting in his vehicle for about two hours Sunday because he could not remember where he parked, according to police.

Donald Vicente II of 7300 Main St. remained in custody Monday under $4,000 bail on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment, according to court records.

Vicente went to Philadelphia to buy drugs and brought the boy with him, police said. Police said he parked the vehicle around 4:30 a.m. in the 200 block of E. Clearfield Street, and they discovered the boy about two hours later.

When they located Vicente he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and he told officers he could not remember where he parked his vehicle, police said. The boy was taken to a hospital for evaluation and released to the custody of his mother.

According to court records, Vicente has pleaded guilty to charges in five separate cases involving illegal drugs or alcohol in Chester, Bucks and Lehigh counties since 2001. Three of the cases stemmed from charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the remaining two included assault charges.