COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. -- A Cape Coral man was arrested in Naples Monday night after he was found passed out in a running car on Tarpon Bay Boulevard with a child inside the car.
32-year-old Anthony Mendez is facing a felony charge of Child Neglect and misdemeanor charges of DUI and violating driver's license restrictions.
According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, witnesses saw Mendez's car stopped in the left turn lane of Tarpon Bay Boulevard at Immokalee Road. When a woman approached the car, Mendez was seen slumped over the steering wheel of the car, which was still in drive. A small child was also in the car at the time.
Another witness, an off-duty firefighter, placed the vehicle in park and pulled the unresponsive Mendez from the car. Mendez regained consciousness a few minutes later.
Witnesses reported drug paraphernalia in the car, and a later search revealed a bag with five Xanax.
Mendez was arrested after being medically cleared. Due to the medical emergency, he was not charged for possession of the narcotics or paraphernalia.
DCF was notified and the child was released to approved caregivers.
