Man Passed Out With Toddler In Car: Deputies

ENGLEWOOD, FL — A 36-year-old Englewood man who told Sarasota County deputies that he’d just been released from jail found himself taking a return trip on Saturday. That’s because deputies say they found him and a woman passed out in a car that was parked in the middle of Tamiami Trail. That car also happened to have a toddler in the back seat.

The case against Matthew Edwin McRee began to unfold in North Port around 4:30 a.m. Feb. 18 when deputies were called to the intersection of River Road and Tamiami Trail. Reports had come in about a disabled vehicle blocking the northbound lanes of Tamiami Trail, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

When deputies checked on the vehicle and its occupants, they say they found McRee passed out behind the wheel with the engine still running. Christina Mattessino, 30, was also found sleeping in the passenger seat. A 2-year-old child was found in the backseat, the email noted.

McRee told deputies he’d fallen asleep and didn’t know where he was. An arrest report noted that McRee also told deputies he’d just gotten out of jail and was on his way home.

“The defendant advised that he was going back to jail now because he did not have a valid license and that he is a habitual traffic violator,” the report noted.

That statement, the report noted, turned out to be true but for more reasons than traffic offenses.

Deputies say they found a soda can with heroin inside on the car’s floorboard and marijuana stuffed into the passenger side air vent. When authorities had Mattessino get out of the car, they found four needles and drug paraphernalia in her purse, the report noted.

McRee was ultimately charged with child neglect, DUI, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotics equipment and driving on a suspended license. He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail with bond set at $44,000.

Prior arrests for McRee include armed burglary, battery and various drug charges.

Mattessino was charged with child neglect and possession of narcotics equipment. Her bond was set at $17,000.

It is unclear what jail McRee had been released from prior to the incident. Deputies say the child was turned over to a relative. They have not said who the child belongs to.

Booking photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office