Man charged with leaving toddler in car

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man who police said told them that his car was stolen with his 22-month-old daughter inside was charged Thursday with abandoning or endangering and child.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Patrick Ryan Husband, 27, told police he was driving to the store around 11 p.m. Tuesday with his daughter when the car got two flat tires. He drove on the flats until he got to the store, then went inside while leaving the child in the car, the affidavit said.

Police said Husband could not say exactly how long he was inside the store, but that when he came out he could not recall where he had parked.

Husband told police he looked for the car, but did not notify police, the affidavit said. Instead, he told police, he walked about a mile to a gas station and purchased an alcoholic beverage.

Meanwhile, Husband said he was contacted by a woman who called wondering why he and the child were not at home. According to the affidavit, Husband gave the woman a different account of the events.

Police later located the car with the child still inside parked at a church near transient encampment. There was no sign that the vehicle was stolen or tampered with, the affidavit said.

Husband was taken to jail. His bail was set at $40,000.