Police: Children found in hot car after Sarasota father, grandfather pass out

SARASOTA (FOX 13) - Two children were found unresponsive and dehydrated inside a hot car after a Sarasota father and grandfather passed out in the front seats -- apparently under the influence of alcohol, police said.

On August 17, Sarasota police arrested 51-year-old Paul Houle and 22-year-old Paul Houle III. Police said a passerby called 911 after seeing the vehicle parked car -- which was sitting directly in the sun -- in the 2100 block of Main Street with the windows up and no air conditioning on.

Both adults were asleep in the front seats while two children, ages 4 and 2, were in the back seat and unresponsive.

When first responders arrived, all four woke up and were “visibly sweating and pale in color.” Witnesses said they were inside the car for up to 30 minutes, according to the men's arrest affidavits.

The children are related to both men and were left under their supervision by the biological mother.

Officers said it appears both men were under the influence of alcohol. According to their arrest affidavits, they told police they did not know what was going on and had difficulty standing or walking on their own. Two bottles of rum and an open beer were found inside the car. The older Houle had a pill, later identified as Dextroamphetamine.

Both men were arrested and face several charges including child neglect.

The children were treated at the hospital and then taken into the care of the Department of Children and Families.