A Colorado state senate candidate is facing felony child neglect charges after a disturbing incident in Florida that nearly turned fatal, according to police reports obtained by TMZ.
Frederick Alfred Jr., a Republican running in a district north of Denver, was arrested Monday in Key West on two counts of child neglect without great harm. Authorities say Alfred left his two young children unattended near a pool while he went to a nearby bar.
During that time, his 4-year-old daughter reportedly began drowning, becoming unconscious and requiring CPR from a bystander. His 6-year-old son also swallowed water while attempting to help and needed medical attention.
Police say Alfred was gone for roughly six minutes. When he returned, officers noted he was holding an alcoholic drink and appeared intoxicated. An alleged receipt showed he had purchased two cocktails.
The fallout has been immediate. Alfred was dropped by the Chainsaw Caucus shortly after the arrest, with the group stating the allegations conflict with their expectations around child safety and parental responsibility.
On his campaign website, Alfred emphasizes his identity as a father and his commitment to protecting parental rights, a stance that has now drawn heightened scrutiny.
Local Reaction Questions “Parental Rights” Platform
In Colorado, reaction has been pointed, particularly across local online communities such as the Colorado subreddit where the story gained traction.
Many commenters focused on the contrast between Alfred’s campaign messaging and the allegations. “On his campaign website, Alfred proudly touts his role as a father and says he’s running to ensure parental rights are respected… For crying out loud,” one user wrote, referencing his stated support for parental rights.
Others went further, connecting the incident to skepticism about political rhetoric. “Left his 4 & 6 year old alone at a pool where they almost drown to go to a bar to drink. Yikes. Totally on par with today’s Republicans though,” one commenter said.
The phrase “parental rights” became a focal point in the discussion, with some users arguing it is often used too loosely. “Children have rights, parents have responsibilities,” another wrote, while a separate commenter added that such messaging can sometimes be used to justify harmful decisions.
There was also cynicism about the political consequences. “Wow that was a brief political career,” one post read, while another suggested that party affiliation can overshadow controversies in some races.
Alfred has not publicly responded to the allegations. His campaign status remains uncertain as the legal process unfolds.
