HOUSTON – A man who allegedly left his 4-year-old child inside his car so he could go gambling was arrested on Thursday.

Harris County Constable deputies were called to the Sam Houston Race Park for a welfare check on a child sitting in a vehicle that was not running.

Deputies found a 4-year-old in the car.

While investigators were on scene, the child’s father, Daniel Ruiz, returned.

Ruiz told deputies he went to the track to gamble. 

Investigators later learned that the child was left unattended for more than four hours while Ruiz gambled.

He was arrested and charged with child abandonment with intent to return.

Child Protective Services were called to the scene. The child was given to another guardian.