A drunk man carrying a baby had law enforcement worried enough that they stepped in and rescued the child from his care and took him to the Delft police station.
The incident happened on Sunday while officers were on a routine traffic stop in Delft. They noticed a scantily clad child with a man who was clear under influence of liquor.
Upon further investigation, the officers noted that the child was without a blanket or appropriate warm clothing.
He identified himself as the infant’s father and was found to be in an advanced state of intoxication.
In the interest of child protection, the officers immediately transported both individuals to the Delft SAPS, where social workers were activated to secure a place of safety for the infant.
JP Smith, the Mayco member for Safety and Security, praised the quick thinking of the officers while highlighting the broader societal issues involved. “One can only wonder how this situation might have turned out had our officers not intervened,” said Smith.
“These incidents are stark reminders of how we have normalised alcohol abuse, when, in fact, it remains one of the most devastating challenges to our social fabric,” said Smith.
The rescue occurred during a week of intensive city-wide enforcement, where law enforcement agencies recorded 288 arrests—including 93 for drunk driving—and issued over 15,000 notices.
Metro Police accounted for 146 arrests (including 52 for driving under the influence) and recovered one firearm, four imitation firearms, and four stolen vehicles.
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