Police: Dad left 3 kids unattended while riding roller coasters at Cedar Point

SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) — A 36-year-old man is facing a child endangering charge after police say he left three of his children unattended so he could ride a roller coaster.

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Police say the incident happened around 9 p.m. Friday. Anthony Gallina, 36, faces a charge of child endangering.

According to a police report, a Cedar Point security guard said a small child, who police learned was 2, was located by a female near the Magnum ride playing in the dirt. The female then began walking with the child back toward the Corkscrew, where another small child was unattended in a wagon.

The female said she waited almost 20 minutes before the father of the child appeared. Gallina told police he and his 9-year-old daughter were in line for the Corkscrew. He left his 8-year-old daughter in charge of watching his 2-year-old daughter and his 4-year-old daughter.

He said they were in line for just a “couple of minutes” and then returned. However, police noted the ride was shut down for at least 20 minutes while Gallina was waiting in line.

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He told police that he and his oldest daughter had ridden the Gatekeeper ride as well, but that he could see the other three children from the line. He said he rode a total of three rides, one of which he rode twice, under the same circumstances.

The incident was reported to the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services.

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