A South Florida woman was arrested February 16, 2026, after allegedly leaving her two young children with an Uber driver for over two hours whereas she went to a local restaurant, authorities said.
Emily Sabogal, 32, faces charges of neglect of a child without great bodily harm and desertion of a child, according to the Sunrise Police Department. The arrest followed a 911 call from the Uber driver who reported being abandoned with Sabogal’s 3-year-old and 4-year-old children.
The driver told police he picked up Sabogal and her children at a shopping plaza on West Commercial Boulevard. He stated Sabogal was holding a cup containing a liquid he believed to be alcohol, and repeatedly said “He thinks I’m stupid” in Spanish, according to an arrest report. Sabogal then allegedly grabbed the driver’s phone, canceled the ride, and gave him $10 in cash before exiting the vehicle, telling him she would return in three minutes.
After waiting an hour and being unable to reach Sabogal by phone, the driver contacted police. He attempted to call her again unsuccessfully before making the 911 call. Police found the children thirsty and hungry, but otherwise in good health, according to NBC6.
Officers located Sabogal approximately 2.2 miles away, walking outside a McDonald’s restaurant. Police reported she appeared intoxicated and was slurring her words. When questioned, Sabogal allegedly stated, “I don’t know what’s going on right now.”
“What’s going on? You deserted your kids for two hours! That’s what’s going on,” a Sunrise Police officer responded, according to bodycam footage. Sabogal claimed her “situation’s a little bit complicated” and that her phone had died, adding she “had not done anything wrong.”
Authorities determined Sabogal had been at Bob G’s Wings N’ Things, a restaurant she frequents, and had consumed several alcoholic beverages after leaving the Uber.
Sabogal appeared in court on February 15, 2026, and was released after posting a $1,500 bond for each charge. Her next court date has not been announced.
