A Colorado state Senate candidate is in cuffs after his four-year-old daughter almost drowned at a Florida resort pool, where authorities say he left his children alone while he went to the bar.
Authorities say Frederick Alfred Jr., a 38-year-old candidate for Colorado’s Senate District 21 seat, was arrested on Monday night in Key West after allegedly leaving his two young children unattended at a resort pool.
Police say the situation turned critical when Alfred’s six-year-old son ran to another guest for help, saying his younger sister was struggling in the water.
The witness pulled the four-year-old girl from the pool and found her unconscious and foaming at the mouth.
A Colorado political candidate was arrested for felony child neglect in Key West.
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Emergency calls came in around 7:34 p.m., with the bystander beginning CPR until first responders arrived.
Officials have not determined exactly how long Alfred had been away from the pool. When he came back to the area minutes later, officers said he was holding an alcoholic beverage.
Investigators have focused on that gap, working to reconstruct the timeline through witness accounts and surveillance to determine how long the children were alone and how quickly the situation escalated.
A receipt reviewed by investigators showed Alfred purchased a “Bourbon and Bubbles” cocktail and a cannabis-infused drink while his children remained alone near the water.
During questioning, Alfred told officers he had left his children in a hot tub and said he had been gone for about five minutes.
Authorities have not confirmed that estimate, noting that the sequence of events suggests a longer absence before the emergency was discovered.
Paramedics said the boy had swallowed pool water while attempting to rescue his sister before seeking help from a stranger.
Witnesses described the child as panicked as he tried to explain what was happening, moving quickly from the pool area to find an adult who could help.
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The girl regained consciousness at the scene and appeared stable, though officers warned of possible delayed complications.
Authorities said Alfred initially resisted efforts to transport the children to a hospital before ultimately allowing paramedics to take them to Lower Keys Medical Center.
Officers documented that exchange, noting that medical personnel warned of risks tied to water inhalation before he agreed to transport.
Police said they detected a strong odor of alcohol on Alfred at the time of his arrest.
He now faces a felony child neglect charge that could carry up to five years in prison.
That moment in Key West mirrors another incident in Florida that unfolded in a very different setting but followed a similar pattern.
Another case involved a 12-year-old girl left alone inside a busy entertainment complex at Universal CityWalk after an argument with her mother.
The setting was crowded and active, but the child was left without supervision, sitting alone while activity continued around her.
Deputies said they responded to a report of a missing child at a bar around 10:30 p.m.
The call prompted a search of the immediate area as deputies worked to determine whether the girl had wandered off or had been left behind.
They found the girl sitting alone on a bar stool, visibly upset and crying.
According to investigators, her mother, Amanda Thorpe, left her at the bar and went to another location within the complex to continue drinking.
The affidavit states that the situation escalated after the child said she wanted to return to their hotel room.
Thorpe allegedly reacted angrily, made a vulgar gesture and walked away, leaving the girl behind.
Deputies later located Thorpe on a dance floor at another venue, where she was holding an alcoholic beverage.
Officers said she appeared unaware of the situation unfolding at the location where her daughter had been left.
When questioned, Thorpe told officers she believed her daughter had remained with her. She later claimed the child was back in their hotel room.
Investigators said Thorpe showed signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, unsteady movement and a noticeable odor on her breath.
The girl was eventually picked up by her grandfather. Thorpe was charged with child neglect and later released on bond.
That same lapse in supervision also turned deadly in an earlier case in Michigan. In that incident, a four-year-old girl died after being left unattended in a pool at a private health club.
Authorities said the circumstances again involved adults stepping away while children remained in the water without direct oversight.
According to investigators, two women brought six children to the facility and left them in the water while they went to the bar area to eat and drink.
The group included children of different ages, leaving older siblings to watch younger ones in an environment that required constant attention.
The children ranged in age from 12 to 4 and were alone for approximately 35 minutes. During that time, the youngest child went under.
Investigators said that extended period without supervision created conditions where a brief lapse could quickly become critical.
Her sister pulled her from the water and brought her to the pool deck, where bystanders began CPR.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the child unresponsive as efforts to revive her continued.
Emergency responders continued life-saving measures as they prepared the child for transport.
She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said the two women remained at the bar until they were located following the emergency.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing whether criminal charges will be filed.
