Dad arrested for burning toddler son in a fire pit. Listen to the 911 call where father is told to 'sober up'

Article by  J.D. Gallop at FloridaToday.com:

A 24-year-old father remains jailed under observation as his 2-year-old son continues on what officials said likely will be a long and painful recovery from burns caused by falling into a fire pit.

Michael David Bargeron of Palm Bay was arrested Friday after police said he wrestled with the child near a burning fire pit during a New Year’s Eve party at his Johnston Road home. He remains held on a $50,000 bond and will face a Feb. 23 hearing on the charges, officials reported.

Detectives said Bargeron appeared to be intoxicated and had called 9-1-1 in a bid to find out whether his child was at the hospital. The child’s mother, Bargeron’s wife, already had grabbed the burned child and rushed him to the hospital about 1:30 a.m. Friday, officials said.

“Do you have any record of a 3-year-old checking in,” Bargeron asked a Palm Bay 9-1-1 dispatcher at one point during the call. The dispatcher told Bargeron to “sober up” and clarify his request.

“He was described as extremely intoxicated at the time of the incident,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

“Basically, he didn’t know where his son was or where the incident occurred.”

Witnesses told police Bargeron was dismissive of warnings at the party as he played with the child near the rising flames.

Police said the child then fell into the pit, but Bargeron failed to pull him out. The child suffered burns on his hands, arms, stomach and buttocks, Martinez said.

The Department of Children and Families also is investigating the incident. Bargeron’s other child, a 15-month-old, was in the custody of the mother’s family members.