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Police: Mom Passes Out; Tot Wanders Apartment, Balcony
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Published: April 14, 2008
Updated: 04/14/2008 11:26 am
TAMPA - The 2-year-old girl was supposed to be in her crib, police say, but when her mother passed out Sunday night after mixing prescription medication with alcohol, she climbed out and toddled over to the balcony where her mother was sleeping it off.
Tiffany Nicole Garland
The child was on the balcony at least four hours without supervision and was seen by neighbors eating cigarette butts, according to police records, which describe what police found:
Tiffany Nicole Garland, 21, who in jail records lists her occupation as an entertainer at Mons Venus, lives alone with the child.
Sunday evening she took an unknown quantity of the antidepressant Paxil, drank some alcohol and passed out on the balcony of a unit at the Gardens of South Bay Apartments, at 6720 S. Lois Ave.
After the baby was spotted on the balcony, police were called.
They arrived shortly after 11 p.m. and found a witness, a maintenance worker and James Varas, the child's father, trying to get in the apartment.
The baby had been up there for several hours. Garland was sitting in a chair, covered with a blanket, and not responding to repeated shouts to get her attention.
As police waited for the maintenance worker to return with a master key, they watched the baby holding the balcony's metal railing. Those watching were concerned that the child might try to climb the railing or squeeze between the bars and fall.
When the maintenance worker returned, Officer David Peck tried opening the door as Officer Thomas Mayo stood under the balcony, trying to keep the child occupied and prevent her from climbing the rails. The key, however, would not work.
With Peck fumbling with the key, Mayo shouted that police needed to get in the apartment right away.
Peck tried several times to kick the door in. When that didn't work, he used his baton to break the bottom sash of the front window. He opened it, climbed inside, shouting, "Tampa police," and ran toward the balcony. He opened the door, ran out to the balcony, pulled the child away from the railing and passed her to her father.
Despite all the commotion, Garland remained motionless on the chair. Peck yelled at her several times and pushed her before she woke up. Peck said she smelled of alcohol.
When Peck asked Garland where her baby was, she said, "She's in her crib."
After being told that the baby had been on the balcony for several hours, Garland expressed disbelief and became combative, yelling at the police and the baby's father. At this point, police handcuffed her.
"I just turned 21, and I'm not used to drinking," she said. "I had only three or four shots of tequila tonight, and the shots just hit me all of a sudden." She also explained that she was taking the Paxil for depression.
During the investigation, police found the apartment "absolutely filthy." Dirty clothing was strewn on the floor of every room, and the kitchen smelled of rotten trash. The kitchen contained only a half gallon of milk, some eggs and a half full 1.75 liter bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila.
Garland was charged with child neglect and was being held at Orient Road Jail. Bail was set at $7,500.
The baby was turned over to Varas after police went to his mother's house – where he is living – and found it to be in good condition, with a crib, food and clothing.
Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (83) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( lolalove222 ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Garland? What? Is she like Madonna or Sting with no first/last name?
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Posted by ( Bonsai ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Some women should just not be allowed to procreate.
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is that a new booking photo? If so, I just want to slap that grin off of her stupid face.
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Posted by ( officegiirl ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THIS IS FUNNY TO HER?
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Posted by ( NotPlayin ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hopefully dad will take good care of the baby.
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Posted by ( flpeep ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm not sure what the first couple of comments were referring to with the name thing. They cite her full name in the article. As far as the child, sad situation. I'm surprised they could find the father!
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Posted by ( GF ) on April 14, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The poor kid likely has a nicotine addition already, mom wasn't sharing her secondhand smoke, so the kid had to chew some butts. First class job mom, drugs, alcohol, and a stripper pole.
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Posted by ( Come_on ) on April 14, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
FILTHY, FILTHY, FILTHY PIG!!!!!!
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Posted by ( crumbsnatcher23 ) on April 14, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Boy, I hope from the neck down is worth looking at. Mons Venus - Buisness gotta be pretty bad. And i can see why
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Posted by ( altedbaseball ) on April 14, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"joe" must be suffering from a bad case of cataracts. his
"hires" have NOT done justice to the infamous pole.
OUCH, it hurts to look at her.
i believe in eugenics.
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Posted by ( wheatp103 ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm sure that smile is gone by now. She's still sitting her butt in jail where she belongs. I don't see why she even has a bond!!!!
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Posted by ( RRR ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
First comment--- NASTY
Second comment---see the first comment
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Posted by ( craziegal ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oh she ONLY had 3 to 4 shots of tequilla and couldn't imagine what happened...
I hope the dad gets full custody of the child.
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Posted by ( Melody07 ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a sad situation for this child. Who knows when this child last ate prior to mom being disturbed from her drunken state. The kid probably got up because she was hungry.
I certainly hope the father can use this in court to assist in getting custody. This young woman needs to do a lot of growing up before she even thinks about being called a parent.
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Posted by ( wtf ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I got a lap dance from her and she smelled like b.o.
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Posted by ( brobeth1 ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just a white trash POS pig! I hope she never gets the kid back!
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Posted by ( cavedog ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( ZEP ) on April 14, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Truly sad. Social services should just take this child away. Looks like her father has a record as well. Hopefully it's not him but this child doesn't seem to have much hope for a good future. One thing for sure, whatever the case, she does not need to go back to her mother. Hope they drug tested her mother, I highly doubt this is the first time for her and that it was 'only' alcohol.....What a sad situation.
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Posted by ( stopTHEinsanity77 ) on April 14, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is ridiculous! Why was she left out there for four hours? Why didn't a neighbor report the incident sooner? Poor baby, another mother competing for mom of the year. What a disgrace. Worst part, she will probably take a class and get her baby back when there is a no excuse for her crap. Another more capable family (even Dad) should have custody.
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Posted by ( SwampRunner ) on April 14, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a POS! I hope the father will get custody and do a better job than the mother. I sure even satan could do a better job than that unfit, nasty
A--ed ugly bag of crap.
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Posted by ( stopTHEinsanity77 ) on April 14, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I can't believe the look on her face in this mug shot, like she is posing in photo booth at the mall. She should be ashamed of herself. It kills me when people have these big grins in mug shots!
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Posted by ( JLJ ) on April 14, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Social Services can’t just take a child from a parent.. There is a legal process that has to be followed and just like in criminal cases, the parents have rights. Don’t yell at me, talk to your state representatives. Read Chapter 39 of the Florida State Statutes and then make your comments.
As for the father wanting custody, what has he done over the last two years to get custody? Did he hire an attorney (probably not)? Did he provide child support? Did he batter the mother (see HSCO)? Or did he just talk a good game about how he wanted to get his kid?
I'm sure he's a good guy but come on - he's a 30 year old guy with 2 year old baby he fathered with a 21 year old stripper. He's 30 years old and lives at home. Can you spell "LOSER."
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Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on April 14, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I wanted to comment on this story, however I find myself unable to:
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
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Posted by ( Quagmire ) on April 14, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I've often wondered what kind of pose I will strike when I have my thugshot taken. I'm not sure if I should go for the glamour shot or the Olen Mills standard. I'll probably just make some kind of goofy face so that everyone can have a good laugh at my expense.
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Posted by ( lovemy2boys ) on April 14, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a great mother!!! She just turned 21 and is not use to drinking?? I find that hard to believe! I want to know why it took several hours for someone to finally call the police. Thankfully this little girl has a decent daddy and hopefully he gets custody of her.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on April 14, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Tiffany Nicole Garland - "entertainer"???? I don't think so..........
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Posted by ( JLJ ) on April 14, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He may hate her guts but he did have a child with her. Love her or hate her, she will always be his child's mother.
I stand by my comments.
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Posted by ( wheredotheyfindthem ) on April 14, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Come on people, you heard her. She just turned 21 and started drinking. And you know she dances there to put herself through college. And I'm sure she got pregnant and had a baby at 19 by accident....it was her first time...really.
If she's Garland, someone needs to stick a Christmas Tree up her butt.
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Posted by ( a1mom ) on April 14, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Another one, SWF, trashy, stripper, full of excuses, only God knows what she has put this child through. I'm sure this was not the first time this baby was "alone", even if her trashy so-called mother was home. How many hours has this baby spent "alone" w/ this trash bag asleep or passed out. Good Luck to Dad, rip this trash bag to shreds, before she does your child.
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Posted by ( lorrab ) on April 14, 2008 at 4 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( lolalove222 ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
RRR~ out of all the comments on here, you point mine out as nasty? At the time the article was originally published, only the name "Garland" was given. Please excuse me for my reasonable question. I'll try not to be "nasty" again.
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Posted by ( jslwctc7 ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ah, yes, a hint of optimism in the article..."and a half full 1.75 liter bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila."
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Posted by ( sherri77 ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
lolalove222
RRR's comment wasn't about your comment.
He was referring to the Garland.
And I totally agree with RRR
that comment cracked me up
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Posted by ( Come_on ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.
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Posted by ( eilbeback ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
When my son was a little over a year old, I was out on our 3rd floor balcony painting and he shut and locked the slider. I had to yell & scream a while to get someone from the neighboring condos to rescue me. I'd never been so thankful to have forgotten to lock the front door! I wasn't drunk, tho... And my house wasn't a trash dump.
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Posted by ( Quagmire ) on April 14, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
But eilbeback, do you dance at the Mons?
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Posted by ( Ppmintpti ) on April 14, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hmmm...
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Posted by ( Jen1897 ) on April 14, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
LOL @ SpanishInquisition & RRR!
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Posted by ( bonkbonk ) on April 14, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
See citizens and judges DADS not always the BAD GUY!!
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Posted by ( stopTHEinsanity77 ) on April 14, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I pray to God the father is a good dad, and if he is, I pray he gets full custody! This baby doesn't deserve this.
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Posted by ( nikita0229 ) on April 14, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Do not comment on the father negatively until you know there is a reason to do so. It is HARD to take custody away from a mother unless she can be proven unfit. How does anyone know what lawyers he has hired to fight her, what child support he pays etc. Hopefully this incident will help him get custody of this child. Nothing could be worse parenting than that. I commend him for stepping in. Sounds like his home is much more amenable to raising a baby. So what if he is living with his mother and taking care of her. That is commendable too. WAAAYYYY too many judgmental people about the fathers of these single white trash mothers who probably get purposely knocked up to start with....
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Posted by ( pepe_santos ) on April 15, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I used to take Paxil and it would not cause the extreme reaction with alcohol as described. Is it possible that she was on something else, such as valium or xanax, but does not have a script, and is hiding the truth? Or maybe we should believe this fine upstanding parent at her word?
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Posted by ( samuraiavenged ) on April 15, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
hey guys, i am james the father and let me set it straight. I dated this girl for almost 4 years and had a child by her. She (kailey) is the most precious thing in my life and I can't belive this happened. I was at work and that was what i got to come back to, my daughter in the "care" of my ex acting like michael jackson with a kid dangling on the balcony. I lived with them for almost two years. I let tiffany borrow my caron new years eve and she dui'd my car into two accidents. I found out She was on xanax when driving, and guess who was in the car....thats right my friggin daughter. Needless to say for soem reason the cop didn't arrest her for dui. I am reporting this to have the officers who pulled her over penalized. my daughter could have died twice over. Because of money she started stripping to pay damages but after all was said and done she was hooked on roxycontin and alcohol. I had no paternal rights established so i was at her mercy on when i could see my daughter. I had moved out four blocks away so i would not be dragged in her crap but i could still be with my daughter. I had no legal rights to my daughter but i saw her everyday from when i left work to when i got back. We need to change florida law to give fathers their rights at the birth of the child. This would have never happened if the officials had done something when she got in the two accidents. I will fight tooth and nail for my daughter's safety and wel-being. best belive i am going to be at the hearing to make sure she gets her full 15 years
James
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Posted by ( ZEP ) on April 15, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
While this mother is obviously unfit, let us not cloud our judgement by assuming she belongs with the father.
SOMETIMES both parents are not good at parenting. For those of you who know and defend the father, let's hope and pray that you are right in your stance!
If you go to the Sheriff's page - it stated he was 'unemployed' and that HE was 'disabled'.
The other thing you do see is the look of his eyes and it appears that he obviously is under the the influence of something.
There are two sides of every story and being friends with someone does not necessitate that you have been told the complete truth or know the whole story.
It is absurd to say that she "chased" him and act as if he was an innocent victim. One she is like ten years younger (barely an adult herself) and he IS a grown man. It also makes you question his judgement.
I am ALL for the rights of father's provided they can provide all the things the mother can not - it is not just about a roof over your head or food in your mouth.
Any parent knows this. Parenting is one of the toughest jobs there is and not everyone is equipped to handle it.
What is in the best interest of the little girl is what IS important. Not the parents.
As for the father making more money than the people on here just because one does not like the comments made on this article, you certainly need to rethink your stance again. Having said that it is highly unlikely that he holds a Master's Degree or any position close to this household. Even if he does, that is not what makes him a better parent per se - it just proves he has more stability than this child's mother does at this point.
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Posted by ( hope2008 ) on April 15, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
First of all JAMES stated that he "dated" this young lady for 4 years which means she was only 16-17 yrs old.. why is he dating a 16-17 yr old= Secondly... GUYS LISTEN UP !!! you dont want to have a baby buy a box of condom and if you are really serious get yourself fix... it takes 2 people to conceive a life...I am so sorry that this child had to go thru this I have no sympathy for either parent they are both irresponsible and they are both endangering this child.. I PRAY FOR THIS CHILD and every other child that is in a similar situations...Children need supervision.. If you do not feel you can handle the responsibility or are just simply not financially, mentally, or physically able to do so please make sure they are with someone that can keep them safe and feed/ clothes them properly = not lavishly just properly..
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Posted by ( JLJ ) on April 15, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
lkaruga, you should learn to spell and count. 21 minus 4 is 17 not 18. Since she just turned twenty one last month, I think we can assume (and yes I know the difficulties in assuming anything) they started dating when she was still 16 and he was 27 (yes he is a full 11 years older than she is).
James, if you want rights, go to the child support office and sign up to pay child support. Then you can ask for court ordered visitation. Also, don’t fall into the trap of thinking this incident will get you custody of your daughter without going to family court. Dependency Court may give you custody, but they will also give the mother a case plan with the goal of reunification. If she completes her case plan and you do nothing to secure custody, she can get the child back.
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Posted by ( NotADoc123 ) on April 15, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ZEP-What does having a master's degree have with anything. They're not hard to get-I have two, and I have friends who have Master's degrees and earn $30,000 a year so what's the big deal?
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Posted by ( samuraiavenged ) on April 16, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
thnx ljl i am going to family court today to start the process. i have secured a family lawyer and am working with dcf to secure custody.It is my intention to try to get supervised visitation for tiffany so she may not be left alone with my daughter, but allowing my daughter to see her mother. she says "momma" alot now and she is starting to notice her mothers absence and it breaks my heart but mom f*&ked up bad.there is no excuse for what happened and i see it as my fault for trusting her mother.i will NEVER make that mistake again. btw guys i am one semester off from a B.A. in communications. I have no masters nor do i want one. Thanks for all your comments guys.
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Posted by ( Dulci ) on April 16, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
After reading all the comments, I have to say that jumping to ASSumptions (LJL especially) can really make folks look bad! Dad in this case is a stand up guy who dated the wrong girl. He gave her a place to live for 3 years when even her family would not provide her with a place to live anymore (too tired of her shenanigans after she got pregnant- the proverbial "last straw"). That was during her entire pregnancy and just until a couple of months ago (around the same time she became an "entertainer"- she was a waitress when he was dating her)! He has always provided the best he can for his daughter. He didn't technically pay child support to the mother, because he was already providing everything since they were living together, and he is the farthest thing from a deadbeat dad that this world has seen. Good thing, too, because dear Ms. Garland would have likely just spent the money on herself. And he *is* medically disabled like the rap sheet said, but he now works despite that so that he can try to provide more for his child. You have never seen a dad look at a child with so much pride and love. He has always worried that Ms. Garland would try to take her away from him since courts favor mothers around here... I hope with all my heart that this incident was enough to keep this "entertainer"/ lovely woman away from this child as much as humanly and legally possible! You'll be in my prayers throughout this mess, James & Kailey!
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Posted by ( Dulci ) on April 16, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oops! I meant JLJ (forgive my dyslexia) there.
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