A Largo man ended his week in handcuffs after police say he left four children, ages 9, 10, 12 and 15, alone inside a family services office and walked out. Officers identified him as 52-year-old Marcus Sherrod, who was later booked into the Pinellas County Jail on child neglect charges. Staff at the facility called police after the children were left unattended and their father did not return, according to investigators.
Police: Drop-off Not Coordinated With DCF
According to an arrest affidavit, surveillance video shows Sherrod telling staff he could no longer care for the children and vaguely mentioning that he had spoken with a social worker or an adoption specialist. Investigators wrote that the drop-off was not coordinated through the Florida Department of Children and Families, and that Sherrod did not stay to formally relinquish custody. Officers said multiple attempts to reach him afterward were unsuccessful, and the Largo Police Department ultimately charged him with four counts of neglect of a child, according to Tampa Bay 28.
Where It Happened
Police say the children were left at a Pasco and Pinellas Family Support Services office in Largo, which serves as the community-based lead agency for foster care, adoption and family preservation in the two counties. The agency lists its Largo site at 8560 Ulmerton Road, according to Family Support Services of Suncoast.
Arrest And Booking
Largo officers later took Sherrod into custody within the city limits, and he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. The jail serves as the central intake facility for arrests in Pinellas County and posts its address and inmate procedures on the sheriff’s website. Sherrod faces four counts of neglect of a child and remains in custody pending processing, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Legal Implications
Under Florida law, neglect and unlawful desertion of a child are offenses covered by Chapter 827, which defines neglect and sets penalties based on the level of harm or risk involved. A caregiver who deserts a child under circumstances that expose the child to an unreasonable risk of harm can be charged with a third-degree felony, and neglect itself can rise to felony charges depending on the facts. Those statutory definitions and penalty ranges are outlined by the Florida Senate.
What Remains Unclear
The arrest affidavit reviewed by local reporters states that Sherrod is the legal father of all four children through adoption. However, reports did not indicate where the children were taken after staff contacted police. Court filings and any future statements from DCF or the Largo Police Department could clarify custody arrangements and next steps as the case moves forward, per Tampa Bay 28.
