Parents accused of leaving baby outside Margate bar while they got drunk

Mother says she checked on baby every 5 minutes before going back in to take shots, police say

MARGATE, Fla. – The parents of a 3-month-old baby are facing child neglect charges after they left their son outside a bar in Margate earlier this week while they got drunk, police said.

Antonio Nieves, 28, and Amy Schafer, 27, both face a child neglect charge. Nieves also faces a charge of domestic battery.

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According to an arrest report, police were called to a Margate home in the 5700 block of Northwest 27th Street on Tuesday after someone called 911, saying a man was trying to get into their house.

Police said Nieves was standing outside the home, where he does not live, with his baby when officers arrived. They said Nieves had been knocking on the door and attempting to unlock it with keys that did not work. Police said two other men who live at the house were outside with Nieves.

As Nieves was being questioned by authorities, an officer noticed a large knot on the left side of his forehead and said Nieves claimed that he had fallen down. The officer said Nieves' eyes were bloodshot, and he smelled of alcohol.

According to the report, Schafer was waiting for Nieves inside their car and also had bloodshot eyes and reeked of alcohol.

Police said Schafer had multiple injuries on her face and told the officer that Nieves had punched her at least three times after she called him an (expletive).

Police said the couple, who are engaged, had been drinking at O'Malley's Sports Bar in Margate.

According to the report, Schafer told detectives that the couple had left their baby in his carrier outside the front door of the bar while they consumed multiple alcoholic beverages.

Police said she claimed that she left the bar every five minutes to check on the baby before going back inside to take shots. Police said Schafer said that another woman that she met that night at the bar also checked on her son for her.

A Child Protective Services investigator took custody of the baby.

Police said CPS has a previous open case involving the couple. The details of that case were not immediately released. 

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About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.