Funny Stuff Boy ends up at Hooters after slipping out of day care

kepp · 07-25-2008, 10:54 AM

LINK

DENTON — Investigators are looking into how a young boy managed to slip out of a Denton day care center unnoticed, then cross two busy roads and end up a half-mile away at a Hooters restaurant on Tuesday afternoon.

The five-year-old boy walked out of the Imagination Station child care center in the 2300 block of San Jacinto Boulevard near Golden Triangle Mall.

He then crossed busy Dallas Drive to go to a RaceTrac gas station to purchase a soft drink and snacks.

After leaving the station, he ended up in the Hooters parking lot about a half-mile away.

The restaurant's general manager Brian Mason and his employees spotted the child shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"I was pretty impressed that he made it that way without getting hurt," Mason said. "He let us know that he looked both ways before crossing the road, stopped in the middle and then crossed again."

With no chaperone for the boy in sight, Mason called police.

"We kept him in the back coloring and kept him pretty occupied until the police showed up," he said.

Deborah Pugh, the day care owner, said the boy had asked to go to the bathroom before he disappeared. When his father arrived minutes later to pick up the child, workers said they realized the boy was missing.

Pugh said she believes he got out through a fire exit, which, by law, must remain unlocked.

"We are looking into the timeline," said Denton police spokesman Jim Bryan, "but I think the greater concern is the distance that this child went and the timeframe that he was not in the day care."

Despite what happened, some parents told News 8 they still trust the Imagination Station.

"She [Pugh] is a caring woman and I like how she takes the children," said Grace Shotayo, one of the parents. "She really cares for them."

Imagination Station is subject to state inspection every three to five months. According to records, the day care has been cited for at least eight violations since 2006. Two of the citations were for improper supervision; the most recent one was issued in April.

Pugh said this is the first time a child has disappeared while in her care since she opened Imagination Station 13 years ago. She said she plans to install an alarm at the emergency exit, and is now escorting all children to the bathroom.

The five-year-old has not been back to the day care since the incident.

State child care licensing workers and police investigators are looking into the case to determine whether they will take action against the center and its owner.

**RealSNR** · 07-25-2008, 10:56 AM

The little guy gets what the little guy wants

Demonpenz · 07-25-2008, 10:59 AM

stupid kid. BW3 has better wings

RJ · 07-25-2008, 11:03 AM

So the geniuses at the gas station sell him a drink and a snack and watch him go on his way. Brilliant, just freaking brilliant.

Adept Havelock · 07-25-2008, 11:04 AM

Daddy? Can I go to the other daycare instead? The one where they gave me Chicken Wings?

Stewie · 07-25-2008, 11:07 AM

A 5-year old kid has money to buy snacks and drinks? I bet he went to Hooters looking for a wet nurse.

Goapics1 · 07-25-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adept Havelock

Daddy? Can I go to the other daycare instead? The one where they gave me Chicken Wings?

07-25-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

So the geniuses at the gas station sell him a drink and a snack and watch him go on his way. Brilliant, just freaking brilliant.

Those places are busy. I'll bet they thought a parent was pumping gas or something.

**Skip Towne** · 07-25-2008, 11:28 AM

Kid missed a hell of an opportunity to get breast fed.

eazyb81 · 07-25-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

Despite what happened, some parents told News 8 they still trust the Imagination Station.

"She [Pugh] is a caring woman and I like how she takes the children," said Grace Shotayo, one of the parents. "She really cares for them."

a.k.a. she's the cheapest I can find.

RJ · 07-25-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Those places are busy. I'll bet they thought a parent was pumping gas or something.

Maybe. To their credit, at least they didn't sell him beer and cigarettes.

FAX · 07-25-2008, 11:54 AM

Just a rambler.

FAX

Groves · 07-25-2008, 12:22 PM

Am I in the minority if I think that the kid is the one at fault? (unless he was escaping abuse or something, which is a whole nuther story)

RJ · 07-25-2008, 12:23 PM

Well, he's 5.

**Rausch** · 07-25-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Just a rambler.

FAX

$50 long term bet - he's in porn by the time he's 25...

07-25-2008, 10:54 AM
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5319212	Boy ends up at Hooters after slipping out of day care LINK DENTON — Investigators are looking into how a young boy managed to slip out of a Denton day care center unnoticed, then cross two busy roads and end up a half-mile away at a Hooters restaurant on Tuesday afternoon. The five-year-old boy walked out of the Imagination Station child care center in the 2300 block of San Jacinto Boulevard near Golden Triangle Mall. He then crossed busy Dallas Drive to go to a RaceTrac gas station to purchase a soft drink and snacks. After leaving the station, he ended up in the Hooters parking lot about a half-mile away. The restaurant's general manager Brian Mason and his employees spotted the child shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday. "I was pretty impressed that he made it that way without getting hurt," Mason said. "He let us know that he looked both ways before crossing the road, stopped in the middle and then crossed again." With no chaperone for the boy in sight, Mason called police. "We kept him in the back coloring and kept him pretty occupied until the police showed up," he said. Deborah Pugh, the day care owner, said the boy had asked to go to the bathroom before he disappeared. When his father arrived minutes later to pick up the child, workers said they realized the boy was missing. Pugh said she believes he got out through a fire exit, which, by law, must remain unlocked. "We are looking into the timeline," said Denton police spokesman Jim Bryan, "but I think the greater concern is the distance that this child went and the timeframe that he was not in the day care." Despite what happened, some parents told News 8 they still trust the Imagination Station. "She [Pugh] is a caring woman and I like how she takes the children," said Grace Shotayo, one of the parents. "She really cares for them." Imagination Station is subject to state inspection every three to five months. According to records, the day care has been cited for at least eight violations since 2006. Two of the citations were for improper supervision; the most recent one was issued in April. Pugh said this is the first time a child has disappeared while in her care since she opened Imagination Station 13 years ago. She said she plans to install an alarm at the emergency exit, and is now escorting all children to the bathroom. The five-year-old has not been back to the day care since the incident. State child care licensing workers and police investigators are looking into the case to determine whether they will take action against the center and its owner.
Posts: 14,494

07-25-2008, 10:56 AM	#2
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $2260208	The little guy gets what the little guy wants
Posts: 90,532

07-25-2008, 10:59 AM	#3
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3082136	stupid kid. BW3 has better wings __________________
Posts: 54,279

07-25-2008, 11:03 AM	#4
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	So the geniuses at the gas station sell him a drink and a snack and watch him go on his way. Brilliant, just freaking brilliant.
Posts: 14,931

07-25-2008, 11:04 AM	#5
Adept Havelock Obligatory Thoughtcriminal Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Flux,awaiting an observer Casino cash: $10004900	Daddy? Can I go to the other daycare instead? The one where they gave me Chicken Wings? __________________ No matter how cynical you are, it is impossible to keep up. -Lily Tomlin I'd rather be a climbing monkey than a falling angel. -Terry Pratchett
Posts: 14,305

07-25-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1809901	A 5-year old kid has money to buy snacks and drinks? I bet he went to Hooters looking for a wet nurse.
Posts: 13,620

07-25-2008, 11:28 AM	#9
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Kid missed a hell of an opportunity to get breast fed.
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07-25-2008, 11:54 AM	#12
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Just a rambler. FAX
Posts: 44,492

07-25-2008, 12:22 PM	#13
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $2248541	Am I in the minority if I think that the kid is the one at fault? (unless he was escaping abuse or something, which is a whole nuther story)
Posts: 2,380

07-25-2008, 12:23 PM	#14
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	Well, he's 5.
Posts: 14,931