LAKE ELSINORE, CA. – Two toddlers were found alone on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, after being left in a Lake Elsinore motel room for over three hours.
Lake Elsinore station deputies responded to the 31700 block of Casino Drive regarding a 1-year-old child walking alone in the parking lot wearing only a diaper. When the deputies arrived they found the child in the parking lot and also found an open door. Inside the room to the open door they found a 2-year-old child alone in the motel room. Deputies attempted to locate the parents of the children. The father of the children 50-year-old Temecula resident Joseph Salas arrived back to the room around 30 minutes later.
Salas and his children were transported to the station where, Tamara Ross, 32, of Temecula, the children’s mother arrived a short time later. It was learned that Salas and Ross both left the children alone for over three hours. When Salas arrived back, he was under the influence of marijuana and Ross drove to the station under the influence of alcohol.
Authorities said that Joseph Salas was arrested for Felony child endangerment and being under the influence of marijuana in public and Tamara Ross was arrested for felony child endangerment and driving under the influence of alcohol. Child Protective Services responded to take custody of the children.
Both suspects were transported to Cois Byrd Detention Center. Anyone with additional information is urged to call Corporal Brown at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245-3300 or Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch at (951) 776-1099.
