Officers from the Knox City Police Department were called out in front of O’s Tap on Main Street around 2 a.m. Sunday morning in reference to an unattended baby left inside a vehicle.
According to Police Chief Harold Smith, upon arrival a baby was found asleep in their car seat inside a vehicle that was not running. Smith noted that the temperature was below freezing, around 25 degrees, at the time.
The mother, identified as 29-year-old Tiffany Helbling, was arrested for child neglect onsite. Medics from Starke County EMS also responded to the scene and evaluated the 15-month-old female infant.
According to the Chief’s report, “the baby’s diaper was apparently soaked and no baby food, bottle or diapers were found in the diaper bag or vehicle.” The baby’s father, who was at home, was contacted and arrived a short time later. Smith said the baby was turned over to the dad and the mom was taken to jail.
Helbling was said to be at the bar with another patron and they told authorities they took turns running out to the car to check on the child.
The father apparently reported to police that Helbling had been gone all day and he had been trying to contact her but she was not answering his calls.
The investigation is still ongoing and the exact amount of time the baby was in the vehicle is currently unknown. However, Helbling reportedly said she was there for only about 20 minutes while bar patrons allege that she had been there for at least an hour and a half to two hours.
Chief Smith said video surveillance from the bar will be reviewed to determine the exact amount of time.
Helbling was booked into the Starke County Jail around 3:35 a.m. and faces charges of neglect of a dependent and criminal recklessness.
