Parents In Custody After 2 Boys Found Locked Alone In Car Near MSG

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A mother and father are facing criminal charges after police rescued their two sleeping children from a locked car in Midtown.

A good Samaritan flagged down police after noticing the young boys shortly after midnight inside the back of a Mercedes sport utility vehicle parked on Seventh Avenue near West 34th Street.

With warm and humid conditions, concerned officers quickly popped the lock and rescued the children.

Police say Charline Hernandez, 28, and Reggie Cooley, 37, were cleaning a physical therapy office on the 18th floor at 450 Seventh Avenue as their children sat outside.

Cooley signed into the building at midnight, and about 30 minutes later his 2-year-old child and 6-year-old stepson were being rescued, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.

Norman Henry, a doorman at 450 Seventh Avenue near 34th street, couldn't believe the scene outside as police swarmed the SUV.

"I was dumbstruck. I couldn't believe it that people still do these things. You hear these things on the news on a regular basis, kids left in cars."

As the emergency services unit used a tool to open the door, the car alarm went off and the mother and father ran downstairs.

"They were trying to say that they made a mistake, they were wrong they made a mistake and they were sorry, they shouldn't have done this, but it was too late," Henry said.

They were taken into custody and are facing charges for endangering the welfare of a child.

Both boys were taken to Bellevue Hospital to be evaluated and are in good health.

The Administration for Children's Services was notified of the incident.

Police will be placing the children in the custody of relatives.