Toddler with special needs left alone in flooded hotel room for hours while dad smokes in car, police say

SHARONVILLE, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) – A dad in Ohio is accused of leaving his 2-year-old son with special needs alone in a flooded hotel room for hours so he could smoke in his car.

According to Sharonville police, managers at the Extended Stay hotel off Hauck Road called police around 11:50 p.m. Sunday.

Managers called for help because they said it appeared that a room was flooding with water, which was leaking into the hallway.

When officers entered the room, they found the 2-year-old boy inside, alone.

Investigators believe the boy turned on the water in the room’s kitchenette, which then flooded the room.

Thankfully, the child appeared to be OK.

The boy’s father, identified as 44-year-old Landry Wambe, came up to the room shortly after police arrived.

He reportedly admitted to officers that he left his son alone for two to three hours. He also reportedly admitted that he left the child alone so that he could go smoke in his vehicle.

It’s unclear what Wambe was smoking, but he is not facing any drug charges.

Wambe was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of endangering children. He was taken into custody.

A criminal complaint alleges Wambe created “a substantial risk to the safety of a ‘mentally handicapped child’ by violating a duty of care and protection.”

Police notified Hamilton County Job and Family Services caseworkers, and the boy was released to his mother.

Wambe was held at the Hamilton County jail without bond overnight.

He made a brief court appearance Monday morning, where he was assigned a county public defender and his bond was set at $2,500 at 10%.

His $250 bail was posted shortly after, and he was released from jail.

Wambe is under a court order to stay away from the prosecuting witness and comply with county child caseworkers.

He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on Monday.