PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Florida police officers turned into caregivers Friday morning after a vacationing couple was found passed out in their vehicle as the woman’s toddler wandered naked through an IHOP parking lot, according to police.
Randy McMillin, 27, and Jordyn Freeman, 24, both of West Portsmouth, Ohio, are charged with child neglect, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, Panama City police officials said. They were booked into the Bay County Jail.
The toddler, along with Freeman's 9-month-old twins, was placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, authorities said. WMBB in Panama City reported that the older boy is 21 months old.
McMillin, who is described as Freeman’s fiancé, is not the father of the children, according to police.
Freeman’s Facebook page indicates she has two more children. Those children’s whereabouts at the time of her arrest were not made public.
According to a police news release, IHOP employees arriving for work around 5:30 a.m. found the toddler in the lot. A worker wrapped an apron around the child as co-workers found the unconscious couple in a nearby van.
They were unable to wake McMillin or Freeman up, authorities said.
Both McMillin and Freeman appeared to be under the influence of drugs, police officials said. Drugs were also found in the van, as were Freeman’s infant twins. One of the babies was covered with blankets and pillows.
Officers did not find that twin until they were searching the van, the Panama City News Herald reported.
The babies had soiled diapers and the toddler was dirty, the newspaper said.
"All three children appeared to be in good health but needed clean clothes and diapers," police officials said. "Our officers helped care for the children by changing their clothing while the IHOP employees provided the children with pancakes."
Authorities thanked IHOP workers in a statement obtained by WMBB.
"They provided food and other resources for the children, which assisted officers in caring for them until DCF could take custody," the statement read.
It was not clear if the adults needed medical attention before being booked into the jail. Their status, as well as those of the children, was not immediately available Wednesday.
"Suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported to the Panama City Police Department at (850) 872-3100 and/or the DCF Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE," authorities said.
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