You’ll want the facts fast: a mother in Sunrise, Florida, allegedly left her 3- and 4-year-old children inside an Uber for about two hours while she went to a nearby shopping area, and police arrested her on child neglect and unlawful child desertion charges after the driver called 911. This piece explains what happened, how officers responded, and what legal consequences she now faces.
As you follow the timeline, you’ll see the immediate actions taken by the Uber driver and law enforcement, the newly released bodycam moments, and reactions from family and community members. The next sections break down the incident details, the investigation findings, and the charges so you can quickly understand the full picture.
Incident Overview and Immediate Response
Two toddlers were left in an Uber for about two hours while the driver waited and called police. Officers later found the mother nearby; body camera video captured the encounter and subsequent arrest.
Timeline of Events
An Uber driver picked up a 32-year-old woman identified by police as Emily Sabogal with her 3-year-old and 4-year-old children in the vehicle. The driver says the mother was drinking in the car and paid him cash, then asked him to cancel the ride and keep the kids. He waited with the children for roughly two hours before calling Sunrise police.
Sunrise Police Department officers responded to the 911 call, checked the vehicle and spoke with the driver and the two young passengers. Officers used body camera video during the search for Sabogal and when they located her in a nearby shopping plaza. That footage shows officers confronting her about leaving the children in the car.
Emily Sabogal’s Arrest
Sunrise police arrested Emily Sabogal at the shopping plaza after officers observed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, according to the arrest records shown in the bodycam video. She was charged with one count of child neglect and two counts of unlawful child desertion under Broward County jurisdiction.
Booking records indicate Sabogal posted a $1,500 bond and was released. The police report and the body camera clip document the sequence from the driver’s 911 call to Sabogal’s arrest and booking, which Broward County officials used to file the charges.
Condition of the Children
Officers who examined the children found them physically unharmed but hungry and thirsty, the Sunrise police said in their statements captured on body camera. The driver reported the children had been in his car for more than two hours; police placed them into protective custody while contacting family services.
Medical personnel were not reported to have required emergency treatment for the 3- and 4-year-olds. Sunrise police and Broward County child welfare authorities handled immediate care and placement while the investigation continued.
Relevant reporting and the body camera clip provide the primary public account of the sequence and the children’s condition: see the CBS Miami bodycam coverage for the video and police comments.
Legal Charges and Investigation Findings
Police allege the mother left her 3- and 4-year-old children alone in an Uber for about two hours, prompting charges and an active investigation. Records and body-camera footage played a central role in shaping the case against her.
Child Neglect and Abandonment Charges
Sunrise police booked the 32-year-old woman on counts related to child neglect and unlawful child desertion after the Uber driver called 911 when she did not return. Prosecutors say the elements include leaving minors unattended and endangering them by abandoning them with an unknown adult.
The arrest report states officers found the children in the vehicle for roughly two hours. Authorities charged her under statutes that cover neglect of a child without great bodily harm, citing the children’s hunger and thirst noted by responding officers.
Alleged Erratic Behavior and Alcohol Use
Officers and witnesses reported signs consistent with intoxication: slurred speech and the odor of alcohol, according to the affidavit. Staff at a nearby restaurant told police she had consumed multiple alcoholic drinks while the children were at the establishment earlier in the evening.
Body-camera video captured the mother’s inability to clearly explain why she left the children and her walking away after telling the driver she would return in minutes. Prosecutors point to that conduct as evidence of erratic behavior contributing to the decision to charge her.
Details From Police Reports
The Uber driver said he picked up the woman and her kids after karate class and later observed her leave the vehicle on NW 108th Ave, telling him she would be back. He waited, called the mother about an hour later, and eventually dialed 911 after two hours passed without her return.
Officers located the mother walking near a McDonald’s about 2.2 miles away from where the ride had stopped and took her into custody. Police documented that the children appeared physically fine but were thirsty and hungry; they were released to a family member after the incident.
Community and Family Reactions
Family members expressed concern about repeated erratic behavior and urged that the mother receive help, according to local reporting. The children’s father told media he was worried for their safety and believes the situation requires intervention.
Neighbors and community observers reacted with a mix of shock and calls for accountability. The Uber driver’s decision to contact police drew praise for prioritizing the children’s welfare, while some advocates emphasized the need for mental-health and substance-use support for parents in crisis.
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