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Pasco deputies: Man locked boy inside truck while he went to Dade City bar

 
Published Aug. 17, 2014

DADE CITY — A 31-year-old man was arrested early Sunday and charged with felony child neglect after a 10-year-old boy was found locked inside his truck in a bar parking lot.

Pasco County sheriff's deputies responded to Happy Dayz Bar, 12401 U.S. 301 in Dade City, just after 12:30 a.m. after someone reported a child hiding in a locked vehicle.

According to the authorities, Raymond Keith Ellison left the boy inside the locked pickup truck, instructing the boy to hide from anyone passing by. He also told him to not open the door for anyone. Ellison then went into the bar to drink.

Once deputies arrived, they found the truck with the boy inside. The boy would not open the door. A short time later, Ellison was arrested and taken to the county jail in Land O'Lakes. The child is in the care of relatives.