VT Man Left 4-Year-Old Alone In Cold Car For Hours: Police

BURLINGTON, VT — A Vermont father has been charged with child cruelty after authorities say he left his 4-year-old child alone in a car overnight when the wind chill was below freezing, according to Burlington police.

Caleb Holden, 28, of Milton, was arraigned in Chittenden County Superior Court after his arrest Monday. He was released on the condition that he has no further contact with the child.

According to Burlington police, officers were called to the 100 block of North Willard Street shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday. A young child had wandered into a nearby store, crying and asking for their dad, police said.

The child was wearing only shorts, a T-shirt, and winter boots with no socks, according to police. Witnesses told officers that when the child came into the store, their entire body was shivering, their teeth were chattering and they were cold to the touch. Witnesses also told police the child's lips were blue and their nose, ears and feet were red. Witnesses wrapped the child in thick clothing to help warm them, police said.

Police later learned the child had spent six hours alone in a car during overnight hours. The temperature outside was 33 degrees with a wind chill of 24 degrees, according to police.

Holden, the child's father, was involved in a separate police call earlier Monday morning, according to police. At approximately 4:30 a.m., officers were called to the 300 block of Pearl Street, less than a half-mile from where the child was found.

According to police, Holden was intoxicated and disoriented. After he tried to enter a building, officers took him to the hospital for treatment of exposure, police said.

Following his release from the hospital, Holden was taken into custody after officers said they found him sleeping in a hospital waiting room.

In addition to other past charges, Holden previously was charged with cruelty to a child under 10 years old and careless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle. The charges were filed in 2018, police said.