Family Supports Father Who Denied Police Permission To Smash Car Window While Baby Was Overheated

Note: This story was originally reported in October 2020.

A father from Las Vegas was taken into custody after he refused to let police break the window of his car to save his baby, authorities have reported.

Sydney Deal, 27, flagged down officers after leaving his one-year-old daughter, Sayah Deal, inside his car on a hot afternoon with the keys still inside. Despite the officers offering to break the window, call a locksmith, or arrange for a tow truck, Deal declined their assistance, instead asking them to contact his brother.

After a few minutes, the officers proceeded to break the window and retrieve Sayah, who was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the scene.

The exact cause of her death remains unknown, but authorities believe she had been in the vehicle for over an hour.

According to KVUU, Deal’s brother reported that Deal had informed him of the situation, mentioning that the air conditioning was running. Although Deal’s brother was initially confused, he quickly went to the scene. He tried to break the window himself but was told by Deal to seek help from their mother to contact a locksmith instead.

The Las Vegas Sun reported that Deal’s girlfriend also attempted to contact the insurance company for assistance, but Deal instructed her to hang up due to dissatisfaction with the quoted cost for a tow truck.

Deal was later booked at the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm and was held on a $20,000 bond.
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