Drunk dad shuts down medical office, goes to jail (Gainesville, Florida)

ROBERT LEE SMITH, just another "caretaking" dad who dutifully takes his two-year-old to her doctor's appointments--NOT. It seems Daddy "fell asleep" on the examining table--not surprising since he had apparently spent the previous night club crawling around Tallahassee. When the nurses tried to rouse him, Smith was seemingly STILL intoxicated, and was incoherent and verbally abusive. The staff eventually locked him out of the building after getting him to leave. The arresting officer--surprise!--found him in no shape to tend his daughter.

No mention of Mom, which certainly raises more questions.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090625/ARTICLES/906259967/1008/WEATHER?Title=Drunk-father-shuts-down-medical-office-goes-to-jail

Drunk father shuts down medical office, goes to jail

By Karen Voyles
Staff writer

Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:38 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:38 a.m.

Robert Lee Smith, 28, of Gainesville, was arrested and charged with child neglect and disorderly conduct following the incident at Children's Medical Service at 1710 S. W. 16th Avenue, according to Gainesville Police.

Staff members at the clinic told police that Smith brought in his daughter for care, then fell asleep on the exam table with his daughter on top of him. Police spokesman Keith Kameg said nurses had trouble rousing Smith after his daughter nearly fell to the floor while climbing across her father. The nurses later told police that once they woke Smith, he was incoherent, verbally abusive and appeared to be drunk.

Staff members said they began to fear Smith when he yelled and cursed at him, so he was told to leave. Once Smith was outside the building, the staff locked themselves inside the building along with three other patients and waited for police.

Office S. Hardman found Smith on a bench outside the center. According to Hardman, Smith's speech was slurred, he smelled strongly of alcohol and he was having difficulty tending to his daughter.

Smith reportedly said he had spent the entire previous night at clubs in Tallahassee and wanted to be allowed to go home to sleep. Smith summoned one of the girl's aunts, Lacretia Hunt, to pick up the child when Smith was taken to the Alachua County jail.

The medical office was re-opened without further incident.

Smith was being held jail on Thursday.