Police: OKC Dad Locks Daughter Out In Below-Freezing Weather

A Christmas Day fight between parents led a man to lock his half-dressed 12-year-old daughter outside, according to Oklahoma City Police.

The girl called 911 around 11:30 a.m. and told them she was at the Will Rogers Courts housing complex in southwest Oklahoma City. When police arrived, they saw the child and her dog sitting outside on the porch, along with her luggage. The girl was only wearing a tank top, sweatpants and house shoes, and she was wrapped in a small blanket. At the time, it was 29 degrees outside.

The child told police she lives in Texas with her mother, but was in Oklahoma City to visit her father, 42-year-old Lebaren Bartholomew, for the holidays. She said her parents had gotten into a fight over the phone, and that Bartholomew had become so angry he pushed her out of the house and locked the door.

She said at one point, he opened the door and threw out a blanket; then he slammed the door shut again.

Police took the girl to their patrol car so she could get warm. Police convinced Bartholomew to open the door. They said he tried to explain why he kicked out his daughter. When police told him there was no excuse, they say Bartholomew slammed the door in their faces.

Police eventually convinced Bartholomew to open the door again. He was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County jail for child endangerment.

The girl was taken to a shelter while her mother traveled to Oklahoma City to pick her up.