CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A corporal with the Charleston Police Department is on paid administrative leave after being charged with child neglect after his two young sons were left locked in his car while he shopped for groceries.
Cpl. Daniel Goffreda, 32, was charged Sunday with two counts of felony child neglect creating the risk of injury.
According to the criminal complaint, Goffreda parked toward the rear of the parking lot at the Kroger store in Cross Lanes late Sunday afternoon, rolled up the car windows and secured the four doors and then went inside to shop. His sons, 2 and 5, were left inside the car, strapped in their forward-facing car seats.
When the sheriff’s deputy arrived he found the boys “sweating profusely.” The criminal complaint said it was 84 degrees at the time with 67 percent humidity. The deputy tried to get the oldest boy to unlock the door but he could not. The deputy eventually broke out the passenger’s side window and an ambulance crew removed the boys from the car. No serious injuries were reported.
According to the criminal complaint, Goffreda was in the Kroger store for about 25 minutes. He was charged and posted $5,000 bond.
Charleston Police Dept. Public Information Officer Lt. Autumn Davis confirmed Goffreda’s paid administration leave Tuesday.
“Cpl. Daniel Goffreda is off on paid administrative leave from the Charleston Police Department following his arrest for child neglect and investigation by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department.”