Crime & Safety

Man Left Child in Car While at Clearwater Strip Club, Deputies Say

Monty Grow, 41, was released from jail on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.

This story was reported and written by Patch Local Editor William Mansell. Additional reporting by Local Editor Jared Leone.

A former Florida Gator football player is charged with child abuse after he allegedly drove to the Diamond Dolls strip club in Clearwater and left a 3-year-old girl unattended in the car while he was inside.

Monty Grow drove to the strip club around 9:38 p.m. July 14 and left the girl in a parking lot at 16211 U.S. 19, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said when they arrived on the scene the child's grandparents were already there and had removed the child from the vehicle. 

As they were investigating the incident, the sheriff's office said Grow ran up to the car and admitted to leaving the child unattended.  

The child was uninjured.

Grow, 41, of Redington Beach, was charged with child abuse and was released from jail on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records. 

Grow played outside linebacker for the Gators from 1989 to 1993. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. 


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