safety
Opa-locka parks director loses job after being accused of leaving 5-year-old unattended inside city van overnight
By Chelsea Jones at CBS4 Miami
· June 4, 2026
· 2 min read
The city's parks director has been relieved of her duties after being charged in connection with an incident in which a five-year-old child was left unattended inside a city vehicle for more than eight hours overnight.The case dates back to March 11, when Parks Director Zonya Ray was transporting ju
Key takeaway The case dates back to March 11, when Parks Director Zonya Ray was transporting juveniles to football practice in a city van.
Why this matters in The Miami
The incident involving the Opa-locka parks director has significant implications for the community, particularly for families who rely on city programs for their children's recreation and safety. As a major hub for Latin American and Caribbean communities, Miami's neighborhoods, including those near Opa-locka, have a high demand for trustworthy and reliable public services. The fact that a child was left unattended in a city vehicle for over eight hours raises concerns about the level of supervision and care provided by city staff. This incident may also lead to increased scrutiny of the city's protocols for transporting and supervising children in its care. Residents of Miami-Dade County, including those in nearby neighborhoods like Little Havana and Miami Beach, will be watching to see how the city responds to this incident and what measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 4, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The city's parks director has been relieved of her duties after being charged in connection with an incident in which a five-year-old child was left unattended inside a city vehicle for more than eight hours overnight.The case dates back to March 11, when Parks Director Zonya Ray was transporting ju
When was this published? This article was first published on June 4, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Chelsea Jones at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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