Video shows Volusia man passed out in car as toddlers run through Walmart parking lot

2 years ago
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On Wednesday, a man was arrested after two children were found alone in a Central Florida parking lot.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a Walmart on Howland Boulevard in Deltona.

Two unattended children, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, were observed by witnesses in only diapers in the parking lot as it was raining.

Witnesses told deputies the children were almost hit by a vehicle as they were running in the rain.

The store located on Howland Boulevard in Deltona was busy just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

Vehicles were coming in and out and it was raining.

That's why investigators say witnesses were shocked to see two toddlers, in nothing but diapers running around there.

Sheriff's body camera video shows a man slumped over the wheel of a vehicle seemingly passed out until a deputy was able to wake up DeJoune Killingbeck, 35.

Witnesses told deputies the children came out of Killingbeck's vehicle, but according to the report, Killingbeck said he did not know of any children.

Witnesses and store staff grabbed the children.

Deputies say Killingbeck was supposed to be watching the children for their mother, a friend of his, who was in the store shopping.

They say while Killingbeck was disoriented initially, he suddenly seemed to realize what was going on.

"Are the kids in there?" Killingbeck asked a deputy in the body cam footage.

"No, the kids are not in your car. They got out of your car," a deputy told him.

Killingbeck was found unconscious in the driver's seat of a nearby silver Hyundai in possession of a straw containing narcotics, deputies say.

When woken up by a responding deputy, Killingbeck attempted to hide the straw and asked if he'd be going to jail, according to the arrest report.

His friend, the mother of the children, exited the store and returned to the children.

She told deputies she did not think Killingbeck was intoxicated when she left to go inside the store.

He'd agreed to watch her children, who were asleep in the car, before she went into Walmart.

The arrest report says Killingbeck, as he was being taken to a patrol car, attempted to throw the narcotic paraphernalia straw under the deputy's vehicle.

Deputies say he then tried to stomp on the straw.

The straw was later tested, and it was determined it contained oxycodone and fentanyl.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Killingbeck has a criminal history, and the conducted investigation showed his driver's license had been suspended.

He told deputies he wasn't driving and knew his license was suspended last month.

Deputies say he is in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Killingbeck is facing charges of two counts of child neglect without great harm along with the destruction of evidence and possession of paraphernalia.

DCF was also contacted with information on the case.

Killingbeck appeared in court where a judge set bond at $10,000 and he can have no contact with the children.

Sheriff's deputies say the witnesses and staff saved the children then staff at the Walmart brought them inside, got them in clothes and took care of them.

The mother is not facing any charges.

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