Paducah man arrested after police say he left 2 young children in hot car

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) – A Paducah man faces wanton endangerment charges after police say he left two four-year-old children in a car while he played basketball on Sunday.

Malachai G. Bates, 24, of Jackson Street, faces two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Paducah police say medical treatment was required for two four-year-old children he left in a car while he played basketball at Noble Park.

Police were called about 8:30 p.m. Sunday in reference to two children left unattended in a vehicle at Noble Park.

As officers arrived, they saw the vehicle leaving and stopped it.

Bates was identified as the driver. Officers say he was sweating profusely and told them he had just finished playing basketball.

Officers saw two young girls, sweating and not properly restrained in child safety seats, according to police.

When officers checked on the girls, one said she was hot and both asked for water.

Bates told officers the girls had been in the car since 7:30 p.m., but said he had left the front windows down.

Witnesses told officers the car was not running and all the windows were up. The witnesses said they initially called
because they heard screams coming from the car, according to police.

The girls were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment.

Bates was arrested on two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

He was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail.