Dramatic police footage shows a Florida father dropping his infant and toddler into swamp water as he allegedly fled from officers after a drunken crash.
Isaac Kinsey, 27, allegedly drove through a road-closure sign and into a construction zone during the early hours of Wednesday before leaving the crash scene with his two children, ages 2 and 10 months, the Lakeland Police Department said in a social media post.
Body-camera and drone video released by police captures the response. Officers found two child safety seats inside the wrecked vehicle, prompting an urgent search for Kinsey and the children.
Drone footage showed Kinsey running through a wooded, marshy area in complete darkness while carrying the children. He fell several times as he struggled across the difficult terrain, a region known to be home to alligators.
During the pursuit, Kinsey repeatedly stumbled and dropped the infant and toddler into standing water, according to the video.
Officers pushed through the dense marsh and eventually took Kinsey into custody while rescuing both children, police said.
“Where are you? Come out this way, come out this way!” one officer shouted while directing a flashlight toward Kinsey.
“Give me the baby! Give me the baby now!” the officer yelled before reaching for and taking one of the crying children.
The children were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for injuries. Kinsey was also taken to a hospital for medical care, according to police.
Kinsey allegedly told officers he had been intoxicated and that his driver’s license was suspended when he crashed with the children inside the vehicle.
Authorities charged him with eight misdemeanor offenses and three felonies, including two counts of negligent child abuse causing great bodily harm.
“This incident could have ended with the loss of two innocent lives. The rapid deployment of LakelandPD’s drone technology, along with the persistence and teamwork of responding officers, helped locate the children in an extremely difficult environment and get them the care they needed,” the department said in a statement.
“There is no excuse for impaired driving. We are thankful these children survived and proud of the officers whose actions helped prevent an even greater tragedy.”
