Officials: San Tan Valley couple abandoned child to play Pokemon Go

A San Tan Valley couple is facing charges of child endangerment and child neglect after authorities say they left their two-year-old son at home while they went to play the popular smartphone game, Pokemon Go.

According to a statement released by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, Brent Daley, 27, and Brianna Daley, 25, left their son alone for up to 90 minutes the night of July 28.

A neighbor who saw the child wandering around outside the home, called law enforcement after she noticed he was alone and his parents were not home, PCSO said.

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When county deputies arrived, the toddler was barefoot and wearing only a diaper and a shirt, screaming and crying, trying to get back into the house, according to police. Deputies got into the home and found a way to contact the father, who reportedly said 'whatever' and hung up when told his son was found abandoned, according to  the sheriff's office.

After nearly an hour, the parents returned and confirmed they were the boy's parents. Initially, the couple said they left the two-year-old in bed while they went to get gas for their car.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said the couple later confessed they left their child to play Pokemon Go.

"The couple admitted they were away from the residence for up to 90 minutes playing the Pokemon Go smartphone game. They said they were driving around San Tan Valley, stopping at parks and other places to interact with the game," Babeu said. "Our agency and many other law-enforcement agencies have been warning people about personal safety while playing this interactive smartphone game, but we never would have imagined that parents would abandon a child to play Pokemon Go."

The couple was booked into the PCSO jail and held to see a judge. The state Department of Child Services took custody of the child, PCSO said.