The Mesa Police Department arrested a father on Friday who allegedly passed out in a playground and left his child unattended.
According to police, Kevin Reed was found lying face-down in a sand area of an apartment complex in Mesa “appearing to be dead.” A witness told police he seemed dehydrated and was crying.
When officers arrived to the scene, they woke Reed up and he smelled of alcohol. According to police, Reed said passing out from being drunk is, “the Navajo way of life.”
Reed told police he and his son were living from place to place and spent the night in a park the night before.
Police reported that Reed was belligerent and told them his child could take care of himself.
Officers sent Reed’s son to Child Protective Services who fed him and gave him water. They could not tell when the child ate last.
Reed faces one count of child abuse and one count of endangering the life of a minor.
