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Police: Queens Mother Locks Infant In Hot Car While She Shops

LAWRENCE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A Queens mother has been arrested on charges of child endangerment after leaving her year-old infant unattended in a locked car, police said.

Shanequa Mason, 22, allegedly left her daughter strapped into a car seat inside her Toyota for 15 minutes on Wednesday while she shopped at a store in Lawrence, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall with more on the story

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When police arrived at the scene, they said the child was crying and sweating and Emergency Medical Services was called.

Mason was placed under arrest.

Nassau County Police Inspector Kenneth Lack called the action "tremendously dangerous."

"We all know as drivers, on a hot summer day with the windows rolled up, even if you left an air-conditioned car, how quickly, within minutes, that car will reach temperatures that are very, very dangerous—particularly to an infant," Lack said.

The child was unharmed and released into the custody of a family member.

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