Man arrested for child neglect at hotel

A 39-year-old Lighthouse Point, Florida man was arrested Thursday night after Stock Island hotel guests reported he left a child alone unattended.

William Lee Ashing was charged with child neglect, disorderly intoxication and marijuana possession.

Deputies John Allen and Alexandra Davis were called to the Oceans Edge Key West Hotel & Marina, 5950 Peninsular Ave., at 11:49 p.m. regarding a suspicious person whereupon they found hotel staff who stated there was a guest, later identified as Ashing, mumbling to himself while a 5-year-old girl in his care was left unattended in the pool. By the time deputies arrived, the child was in the care of other hotel guests. It was the second time in 24 hours that deputies responded to the hotel due to Ashing’s abnormal behavior.

On Thursday night, deputies arrived to find Ashing mumbling in a beach chair with his eyes closed. The child was playing with other adults in the pool. Deputy Allen announced his presence and Ashing looked at him with bloodshot eyes when he began slapping his hands together and yelling. Deputy Allen walked away and requested back up. Ashing began yelling louder while making statements that deputies were called because hotel staff or guests or both didn’t like his tattoos. He then ordered the child to come with him. Ashing cursed at Deputy Allen in the presence of the child and displayed his middle finger while urging the child to do so as well, but the child refused to do so. Ashing kept yelling profanities while he walked to an elevator whereupon his dropped his shorts and displayed his rear end to Deputy Allen. Hotel staff requested Ashing be removed at that time.

Deputy Jenna Moeller, Detective Matthew Corey and Key West Police arrived and accompanied Deputy Allen to Ashing’s hotel room. It took Ashing 15 minutes to open the door. He exited with the child who was still wearing a bathing suit.

Ashing began yelling and cursing at law enforcement on scene, at which point, he was arrested.

The child was placed in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Ashing was taken to jail.

 

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