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Tampa Police: Drunken Dad Passes Out, Kids Unattended

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TBO.com

Published: July 30, 2008

Gerald Joseph Spelman

TAMPA - Gerald Joseph Spelman was at home drinking Tuesday night, police say, and consumed so much alcohol that he passed out on his bed.

But he wasn't alone.

According to a police report:

While Spelman was sleeping it off, his two daughters, 6 and 7, were left unsupervised to wander the unlocked apartment at 6306 S. MacDill Ave. for about two hours. The apartment was filled with empty beer cans and alcohol bottles and items police deemed a potential harm to the children.

Police arrived at the apartment shortly before 8 p.m. after receiving a 911 call complaining that Spelman had passed out, said Tampa Police Department spokeswoman Andrea Davis. Once there, they found Spelman, who was intoxicated.

He was arrested and charged with child abuse-neglect, a felony. Spelman, a self-employed graphic designer, posted $2,000 bail at 3:35 a.m., according to jail records.

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