Police: Two who left kids in car ID’d

The parents arrested this weekend for leaving two of their children in a car for 30 minutes while they gambled at the Tuscany are Brian John Paynter and Shuang Chen of Las Vegas, police said Monday.

Hotel security called Las Vegas police Saturday afternoon to the hotel-casino, located on Flamingo Road near Paradise Road. Paynter, 35, and Chen, 36, were inside playing slot machines, police said. The parents were arrested for two counts each of child endangerment.

Police spokesman Cris Johnson said the children inside the car were ages 1 and 11. Johnson said officers who arrested the parents took into consideration that one of the children in the car was 11.

"Age is a factor in determining whether a child can take care of another child," Johnson said. "There must have been some other factors considered that led to their arrests."

The Clark County district attorney's office could not be reached Monday to comment on whether the parents will be formally charged on recommendations given to them by police.

Clark County Family Services also could not be reached Monday to comment on whether Paynter and Chen have prior contacts with the agency. Neither Chen nor Paynter remained at the Clark County Detention Center on Monday.

On Oct. 28, the parents of a 9-month-old boy left him in a stroller outside the Imperial Palace while they gambled, police said.

The parents in that incident were arrested and charged with one count each of felony child endangerment and felony child neglect.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.