Photo: Augusta Police Department
The arrest of a Georgia father who left his children at a McDonald’s to attend a nearby job interview is sparking controversy.
According to the Augusta Press, 24-year-old Chris Louis walked with his three children from his apartment to McDonald’s on March 22. Louis left the children, ages one, six, and 10, in the establishment unattended. A customer told police that they saw the father return to the fast food restaurant shortly after to check on the kids before leaving again.
When Richmond County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, the unaccompanied minors were unharmed and remained inside the McDonald’s until their father returned after roughly 2 hours.
Upon his return, Deputies confronted Louis, who said he didn’t have a car and was attending a job interview nearby. Louis said he didn’t want his children to walk back home by themselves during the interview.
Police waited for the children’s mom to arrive to take the children home. Louis was arrested on charges of deprivation of a minor.
News of Louis’ arrest garnered national attention and stirred online controversy.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown expressed sympathy for the father and reportedly launched a GoFundMe to support Louis' family.
“Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc,” Brown wrote on GoFundMe.
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