Dad left child in unlocked semi while in strip club

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Franklin man is facing a preliminary child neglect charge after police say he left his 5-year-old son alone in his unlocked semi while he drank at an Indianapolis strip club.

According to police, when 39-year-old Donald Crawford came out of the club he couldn’t find his semi and reported it stolen at about 1:35 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers who responded to the 911 call said Crawford smelled of alcohol and describe his eyes as blood shot.

Police said Crawford was in his semi-truck with his son at about midnight, when he told police he decided to go to Sassy Kat's Show Club at 1539 South East Street.

The manager showed 24-Hour News 8 exclusive video of the man she said is Crawford walking in the strip club, getting a drink, then heading to the back of the club for three private lap dances.

The manager said exactly 24 minutes later, the bouncer escorted Crawford out of Sassy Kats.

The bartender spoke exclusively to 24-Hour News 8, but she didn't want to be identified.

She said, "When he left he was mad because we told him he needed to pay for his dances. He was mad because we was kicking him out. But he wasn't stumbling, he wasn't slurring his words he was arguing with us."

In the 911 call police say Crawford told the dispatcher he couldn't find his truck with his child.

Dispatcher: Were you in a business or something?
Crawford: No, I was at whatever this little strip club is.
Dispatcher: You left him in the truck to wait for you?
Crawford: He was sleeping.

Police say the semi was parked where Crawford had left it, unlocked with his child inside watching cartoons.

The boy was OK and is now in the custody of his mother in Franklin.

24-Hour News 8’s Gene Rodriguez spoke with the boy's grandmother, Bobbi Ringler. Ringler said the boy is the youngest of Crawford's five children.

She said her daughter Terri Ringler and Crawford have never married but have been together for years living in Franklin.

Their oldest child is 14 years old. 24-Hour News 8 tried to talk to Terri, but she refused to comment.

Meanwhile, in addition to the child neglect charge, Crawford faces a public intoxication charge as well.