A Delaware County father and teacher in the Haverford School District is charged with child endangerment for leaving his 3-year-old son alone in a car while he listened to music in a bar, Ridley Township police tell NBC10.
According to an affidavit obtained by NBC10's Byron Scott, police were called to Tom and Jerry's Bar on West MacDade Boulevard in Woodlyn around 8 p.m. Saturday when someone spotted the toddler alone in a Toyota.
As they were working to get the child out of the locked car, Keith Charles Barnes, 50, of the 100 block of Rutledge Avenue in Rutledge came out of the bar with his 4-year-old son, said investigators.
Barnes told the officers he took his sons to the bar to listen to a band and the 3-year-old started "acting up." Barnes put the child in the locked car, according to police, and they believe the toddler was in the car for about twenty minutes, alone.
According to the affidavit, officers said it was about 45 degrees outside and Barnes failed to see the severity of the situation. The child was not injured. Police say Barnes was drinking throughout the night and had a blood alcohol level of .06.
Barnes was taken into custody and the children were released to their mother.
NBC10 has confirmed that Barnes teaches Technology Education at Haverford High School. NBC10 spoke to several students and parents about their reaction to Barnes' arrest.
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"I think it's terrible that he's responsible for children here and that he treats his own children that way," said Lisa Vandetty of Havertown.
"I think it's very embarrassing that this teacher at our school can't be responsible and take care of his own kids," said James Cannon of Havertown. "Personally I feel like it's wrong. I know teaching is stressful and maybe the stress got to him and he's just trying to live his life. But I think he should have made better decisions in regards to his family."
"If that's the way he's bringing up his kids, how's he teaching in the classroom?" asked Tom Osborne of Haverford.
Osborne also claimed he didn't hear anything about the arrest from the Haverford School District. Greg Parker, Director of Human Resources for the Haverford School District, told NBC10 the district is aware of the charges against Barnes and he has been removed from the classroom while the district conducts an investigation.
