Sheriff: ‘You have to use common sense'

EDINBURG - The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is set to launch a new public service campaign with a simple message: Watch after your kids.

Sheriff Lupe Treviño said he felt compelled to send the public message after four incidents within days of each other left two young children dead and two others seriously injured in August. Another incident Friday resulted in the death of yet another local child.

"I don't want to have to play Big Brother and by no means am I a parental expert," Treviño said. "But you have to use common sense."

That common sense may have kept four children from injuring themselves and saved the life of a fifth one found dead after being left in a car.

Ivet Anmeri Sotelo, 2, died Aug. 6 at McAllen Medical Center after she accidentally trapped herself in the power window of a van, cutting off her air supply. Her grandfather Gilberto Sotelo, the van's owner, was charged with injury to a child, a second-degree felony.

Marissa Abrego, 29, also faces injury to a child charges. Her 2-year-old daughter was mauled by the family pit bull Aug. 8 after Abrego allegedly left the child unattended. Doctors continued to perform surgeries on the child this past week at a San Antonio hospital.

Within days of these two incidents, another child drowned in a family swimming pool, though sheriff's deputies found no one at fault for the death.

In another incident, a 7-year-old boy shot himself in the hand after he found his father's handgun, Sheriff Treviño said. A relative faces criminal charges in that case.

"Every last one could have been prevented if an adult kept an eye on them," he said.

Even more recently, a baby was found dead Friday in a vehicle parked at Edcouch-Elsa High School after being left there for about seven hours. Officials believe the boy's father, a teacher's assistant at the school, forgot the child was riding in the vehicle when he showed up to work Friday morning. Elsa City Manager Paul Vazaldua said the child likely died from heat exposure.

Before this latest incident, Treviño decided to launch a series of public service announcements in print and on television, as well as send deputies to talk to local community groups and people outside area shopping centers.

In addition, 2,700 posters have been printed that show four situations with children on the brink of danger. The advisories remind people to watch after their children and are already posted in many area businesses and public buildings.

"The poster really speaks for itself," Treviño said.

The scenarios in the TV spots and on the posters were staged by relatives of sheriff's office employees.

Funding for the TV air time and posters for the $10,000 campaign came from seized drug assets, Treviño said.

"We're going to hit it very hard for the next 30 days," he said.