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'Moron' Suspect Runs Into Alligator-Infested Waters With Young Sons
The suspect, 27-year-old Isaac Kinsey, was arrested in Lakeland after police say he drove through a road-closure sign and crashed early Sept. 9. When officers arrived, Kinsey had abandoned the vehicle and run from the scene.
Investigators then discovered two empty child safety seats inside the damaged vehicle, immediately raising concerns that children might be missing.
Drone Finds Suspect Carrying Two Children
About 30 minutes into the search, a Lakeland Police Department drone located Kinsey in a wooded, swampy area south of the crash site.
Police said Kinsey was carrying a 2-year-old child and a 10-month-old infant through the difficult terrain in near darkness.
Drone footage showed him struggling to move through the marsh and falling multiple times. According to police, the falls caused the children to become submerged in standing water. At one point, investigators said Kinsey left the toddler behind while continuing through the swamp with the infant.
Alligator-Infested Waters Made the Search Even More Dangerous
The swamp where Kinsey was found is known to be home to alligators, adding another serious danger to an already chaotic situation.
Officers moved into the difficult terrain after locating the family. Body-camera footage captured officers working their way toward the children as they could hear them crying in the darkness.
The children were eventually brought to safety and transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. Both were later released from the hospital.
Police Say Kinsey Was Impaired
According to police, Kinsey displayed signs of impairment and later told officers he had been drinking.
Authorities also determined that he was driving with a suspended license.
The original crash happened after police say his vehicle went through a road-closure sign and sandbags before entering a construction area and coming to rest against exposed tree roots.
'It Just Makes Your Blood Boil'
Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor expressed strong frustration over the incident, particularly because the children were placed in such a dangerous situation.
Taylor told FOX 13 that seeing the children repeatedly go underwater was especially disturbing.
The police chief also credited the department's drone technology and the officers who searched the swamp with helping locate the children before the situation became even more dangerous.
Inside Edition later highlighted the case, with law enforcement describing the suspect's decision to flee into the swamp with the children in extremely harsh terms.
Multiple Charges Filed
Kinsey faces eight misdemeanor charges and three felony charges, including two counts of negligent child abuse with great bodily harm.
The children survived the ordeal and were released after receiving medical treatment.
Police said the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving — and how quickly a traffic crash can turn into a life-threatening emergency when children are involved.
Source: Inside Edition
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