POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lakeland woman was arrested Monday evening after leaving four small children alone in an idling vehicle while she drank alcohol inside a Winter Haven lounge, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Deputies responded to Apple Lounge & Grill at 2803 Recker Highway around 9:19 p.m. after an employee reported the incident. Upon arrival, deputies found four children—a 10-month-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, and an 8-year-old boy—inside a running vehicle parked in a dimly lit lot outside the lounge.
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Deputies located 36-year-old Tiffany Shanta Simmons inside the bar, where she appeared intoxicated, belligerent, and uncooperative during questioning. Simmons reportedly became physically combative during her arrest, kicking a deputy.
An employee told investigators that Simmons had arrived at the lounge sometime after 8:00 p.m. with a young boy. After being informed that no one under 21 was allowed inside, Simmons said she would take the boy outside to wait with his father. She returned alone about 15 minutes later, ordering food, drinking vodka, and dancing.
Suspicious staff members checked vehicles in the parking lot and discovered the four unattended children before contacting authorities.
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“Tiffany Simmons has a history of bad decisions, and this one is the latest,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “She left these four beautiful children alone… in an idling vehicle, parked in a dimly lit parking lot, and outside of a lounge. All the while, she’s inside drinking vodka. The oldest child had a cell phone with no phone service, and he didn’t know how to call 911 in an emergency. Simmons’ actions are infuriating and reprehensible.”
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified and implemented a safety plan for the children, who were turned over to biological family members.
Simmons was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on multiple charges, including:
- Negligent child abuse (4 counts, third-degree felony)
- Battery on a law enforcement officer (third-degree felony)
- Resisting with violence (2 counts, third-degree felony)
- Resisting without violence (2 counts, first-degree misdemeanor)
- Leaving children unattended in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes (3 counts, second-degree misdemeanor)
- Unattended vehicle idling with keys in the ignition (citation)
Simmons’ prior criminal record includes arrests for vehicle theft, burglary, retail theft, prostitution, criminal traffic violations, and possession of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.
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