Man Leaves Children In Car At Amarillo Bar

On Sunday a man was arrested after he left two small children then going inside the Old Santa Fe Lounge in Amarillo.

Amarillo police were called to the bar on Western on a report of children left unattended or abandoned in a car.  When they arrived they spoke with several witnesses that report that two small children, ages 7 & 9, walked into the bar earlier looking for their uncle.

The girls said they were from Houston and were visiting family in Amarillo for the summer and had been bowling with their aunt and uncle.  After bowling the uncle and the girls stopped at Old Santa Fe when he said he needed to see a co-worker for a few minutes and would be back shortly.

According to the girls and witnesses the uncle had been away for at least two hours.  While winesses were talking to the girls no one came forward and identified themselves as relatives to the children.

The driver was identified at Steven Elliot Hughes and as officers were speaking to him about the incident he abruptly man a run for it and pursuing officers eventually deployed a stun gun on him and took him into custody.

Hughes was arrested for abandoning/endangering a child with intent to return, evading arrest/detention and possession of a controlled substance and booked in Randall County Jail.