Long Island man accused of abandoning 3-year-old daughter at Subway restaurant in Harlem
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A man from Long Island is in police custody after he is charged with abandoning a little girl at a sandwich shop in Harlem.
3-year-old Natalie was left alone at Subway around 11:30 Saturday night. After police released Natalie's photo, they caught up with the her father, 34-year-old Stanley Fredrique, who investigators say abandoned the child.
Natalie lives in Elmont, but her father took her to Harlem, and police say he never came back. A worker at the restaurant says Natalie's dad bought the 3-year-old a sandwich, and then left the restaurant.
Natalie is seen in surveillance corner in pink pants, walking down Saint Nicholas Avenue around 11:30 p.m., holding her dad's hand. The pair did not seem to have a care in the world, and witnesses tell Eyewitness News that the brown-eyed toddler turned around and asked her father, "Daddy, open the door, please", so he came back and opened the door and talked to the girl.
However, the man did not come back, and the worker inside the restaurant noticed the little girl. After about 20 minutes the worker walked her to the precinct.
On Sunday evening, a woman who appeared to be Natalie's mother arrived at the home in Elmont where the toddler lives.
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Fredrique is charged with reckless endangerment of a child, acting in a manager injurious to a minor under 17, and reckless endangerment 2nd degree.
Bail was set bail at $20,000 cash or bond. A temporary order of protection is in place.
Fredrique is due back in court on July 17th.
