Kids rescued from hot car as their father was inside a Phoenix adult store, investigators say
Four kids were inside a car in a Phoenix parking lot, and police say the car was turned off amid triple-digit temps on July 24.
Police arrived and were able to rescue them from the heat before taking them to the hospital.
Their father, Ascencio Largo, 38, was booked into jail and is accused of several child abuse charges.
PHOENIX - Four kids were rescued from a parked car in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon while investigators say their father was inside an adult store.
What we know
Police say it happened on July 24 near 24th and Madison streets at around 3:40 p.m.
"Officers responded to a parking lot of a business near 24th Street and Madison Street regarding multiple children inside of a vehicle that was not running. When officers arrived, they located multiple children in the car. Officers were able to gain entry into the car and secure the children," Phoenix Police said.
Police say the car was off, and the windows were rolled up.
The four young kids, ages 2, 3, 4 and 7, were put into an air-conditioned police SUV and were given water.
"The call that all officers hate to get; multiple children left in a car unattended, cars not on, doors locked," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Rob Scherer. "They got all the kids out immediately, gave them water. There were signs of distress, you know, color discoloration, you know, skin bright red, sweating. Clearly, the heat was affecting the children."
After making sure the children were safe and headed to the hospital, officers began looking for the car's owner.
"Officers did follow up attempting to locate the owner of the car and responsible party to the children. While doing so they contacted the father of the children, identified as 38-year-old Ascencio Largo, inside of a nearby business. It was later learned that Largo entered this business just short of an hour prior to police arrival on scene," Phoenix Police said.
Court documents allege Largo was inside an adult store called The Adult Shoppe.
What they're saying
"The facts of the scenario, as alleged by the police, are rather shocking," said Maricopa County Commissioner Jane McLaughlin during Largo's court appearance. "The police allege that they went into the store, called out many times. Nobody came out. And they allege that when you came out, you attempted to pretend like it wasn't your car. It just indicates a strong level of reckless culpability of knowing. It's difficult to say that anybody who grew up in Arizona doesn't know that children and dogs die in closed cars."
According to court documents, police noted a smell of alcohol on Largo. His license also had an ignition interlock restriction, but his car did not have the device.
Largo is accused of four counts of child abuse and four counts of endangerment.
"You are presumed innocent. But what the police are alleging could have resulted in, you know, the kind of story that gets picked up on international newswires. 'Man goes into porno store leaving his four children to die in their car,'" McLaughlin said.
By the numbers
At around the time the kids were rescued from the car, it was about 104 degrees in Phoenix, the National Weather Service's website states. Police say the inside of the car was around 125 degrees.
"The internal temperature of the children was taken, and each was near 100 degrees Fahrenheit," police said.
What's next
"The Department of Child Safety was contacted and is conducting a separate investigation. Additional details about this incident remain part of the ongoing investigation," Phoenix Police said.
Map of the area where the kids were rescued
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