Sergio Suarez faces a felony neglect count; prosecutors are reviewing the case.
SUNRISE, Fla. — A Broward County judge sharply criticized a tow truck driver accused of hauling away a car with a 4-year-old inside, an incident that ended with the child jumping into the roadway as her father chased the truck from a Sunrise restaurant on Sunday.
The driver, identified as Sergio Suarez, 34, is charged with neglect of a child without great bodily harm. Security video from nearby businesses captured the tow and the pursuit, which unfolded outside Bistro Creole. Authorities said no serious injuries were reported. In court Monday, the judge said the driver failed to confirm whether anyone was in the vehicle before towing. Suarez was released on bond while detectives and prosecutors examine video, witness accounts and towing company records to determine next steps.
According to a court affidavit, the child’s father stepped inside the restaurant for a short time before noticing his car being hooked to a truck. He ran to the driver’s door, shouting that his daughter was inside. The truck moved off the lot, and the girl exited the towed car into the street. The father reached her and moved her out of traffic. Police described the roadway as busy at the time. Officers later contacted the towing company to have Suarez return; when he did, he allegedly dropped the car some distance from police and tried to leave again before being detained.
At his first appearance, Broward County Judge Corey Friedman said the towing occurred “without checking” for passengers. Suarez’s attorney told the court the driver and a co-worker checked the vehicle three times and did not see a child, referring to the co-worker as a spotter. Officials did not name the company nor provide its internal policies. Investigators said they are seeking additional angles of surveillance, and it remains unknown whether any dash or body camera footage captured the initial moments in the parking lot. The father was not identified by authorities.
Sunrise, a city roughly 10 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, has seen recurring disputes around private-property towing at shopping centers and restaurants, according to prior city meetings and resident complaints. Florida law bars towing an occupied vehicle and allows criminal charges when a child is placed at risk. In this case, booking records show Suarez was arrested Sunday and appeared in court the following day. Prosecutors will decide whether to file the neglect charge as presented or add counts based on the traffic exposure and alleged attempt to leave the scene after returning the car.
Next steps include a prosecutor review of the arrest report, a formal charging decision and, if filed, an arraignment date likely within several weeks. Police said they will interview all witnesses who were in the lot at the time and verify any towing authorization for the restaurant’s property. Officials did not release a timeline for additional updates. No civil case had been posted in online court dockets by Wednesday afternoon.
Outside the restaurant Monday night, tire marks and scattered gravel lined the driveway as dinner service resumed. A customer who asked to be identified only as Miguel said he saw a man “running and yelling” behind a truck. Another witness said the child stood up after the fall but clung to her father. Suarez left the jail later that evening still in a work uniform, declining to address questions as he walked to a waiting car.
Authorities said the investigation remains active as of Wednesday. A charging decision from the state attorney’s office is expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.