ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A night out at an Albuquerque nightclub allegedly turned into a dangerous situation for two 20-month-old twins after police say their father left them alone inside a hot vehicle for roughly 2½ hours.
Stephan Natseway, 27, was arrested after security personnel at the Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon reportedly discovered the two children sitting in the back seat of a vehicle with no adult around.
The security guard who called police at about 1:34 a.m. Saturday reportedly told authorities that the children were sweating.
By the time Albuquerque Police Department officers arrived, security guards had already taken action, breaking the driver’s-side window to reach the boys.
The children were found strapped into car seats with the vehicle’s windows rolled up. Officers described them as drenched in sweat and extremely lethargic.
Officers Rush to Help the Children
Police immediately began caring for the toddlers as two men approached the scene and said the vehicle belonged to them. Natseway identified himself as the children’s father and was taken into custody.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Natseway later told investigators that he had intentionally left his children in the vehicle because he “wanted time for himself.”
He reportedly said he had attempted to find a family member who could watch the boys for the night but was unsuccessful. Instead, police allege, he drove to the nightclub and left the children behind.
Natseway told investigators he did not expect to stay long. But he reportedly explained that “people were dancing with him,” which prevented him from leaving the nightclub.
Children Were Left Inside for About 2½ Hours
The timeline provided to investigators placed the children inside the vehicle for an extended period.
Natseway reportedly said he arrived at Dirty Bourbon at about 10:30 p.m., while nightclub records showed his identification was scanned at approximately 10:54 p.m.
Police received the call about the children around 1:33 a.m., meaning the twins had potentially been left alone for approximately 2½ hours. Officers said the boys appeared to be in serious distress.
“They were very lethargic, seemed to be unconscious at the time but they were breathing,” Albuquerque police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos told KRQE.
Once officers removed the children from their car seats, they began to regain consciousness. Their clothing was reportedly soaked with sweat, and officers noticed they had soiled themselves.
Body-camera footage captured officers reacting to how heavily the children were sweating as they were removed from the vehicle.
Prosecutors Say Children Were Put in Serious Danger
Prosecutors argued that Natseway knowingly placed both children in danger by leaving them unattended in a hot vehicle while he went inside the nightclub.
Court documents stated that the toddlers were unable to care for themselves and that security personnel found them alone and sweating. Prosecutors also pointed to another potential danger: while the children were unattended, a stranger could potentially have taken them.
The case therefore involves more than concerns about heat exposure. Authorities say leaving two infants alone in a vehicle also created the possibility of abduction or other harm.
Police Question Father’s Reaction
Investigators also reportedly noticed Natseway’s behavior after the children were rescued. Gallegos said officers were struck by the fact that Natseway allegedly did not immediately ask about the boys’ condition.
“In that little bit of time he didn’t ask once how the children were, if they were OK or not,” Gallegos said.
According to Gallegos, officers believed Natseway appeared more concerned about his own situation than what had happened to his children. Body-camera footage also reportedly captured Natseway asking whether he was going to jail.
“It just appeared like he had no remorse. He was more concerned about the fact that he was in trouble,” Gallegos said.
Father Faces Multiple Charges
Natseway was charged with two counts each of child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm, child abandonment not resulting in great bodily harm and open child abuse.
His friend, Orry Morris, was also initially arrested after police alleged he knew the children had been left inside the vehicle while the adults were at the nightclub.
Prosecutors later dropped Morris’ charges while the investigation continued, according to reports. Natseway remained in the Metro Detention Center without bond as of Tuesday afternoon. The case remains pending, and the allegations against Natseway have not been established as fact in court.
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