Miami Beach man accused of leaving son, 4, alone in SUV … again

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A Miami Beach man was arrested Tuesday on accusations that he left his 4-year-old son alone inside of his SUV while he went into his business, and this isn’t the first time this has happened, authorities said.

According to Miami Beach police, officers responded to the area of 1600 Washington Ave. around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday after a woman reported seeing a young boy alone inside of a white Chevrolet Suburban that was parked in the bicycle lane.

The vehicle was turned off and the keys were inside of the ignition, authorities said.

According to an arrest report, the boy’s father, Osman Karatas, 34, came running toward officers and claimed that he had went into his business to retrieve some items.

Police said one officer recognized Karatas from a previous arrest in 2022 when he was accused of leaving his then 2-year-old son alone inside a vehicle while he and his wife were inside the Clevelander.

Both parents were arrested in that case on charges of child neglect.

According to the latest arrest report, the woman who notified police about the boy told officers that she saw Karatas park his vehicle and walk away for over 10 minutes.

She said she feared the boy was in distress or may be kidnapped by a passerby.

According to the report, it took officers about five minutes to arrive at the scene.

Police said the boy appeared to be calm and in good health.

He was released to his mother, Sevda Karatas, at the scene, however a Florida Department of Children and Families investigator was notified about the incident.

Osman Karatas was arrested on charges of child neglect with no great bodily harm, driving without a valid driver’s license and leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle for over 15 minutes.