Cops: Woman Arrested In Suffolk County For Leaving 14-Month-Old Alone In Hot Car
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- It seems to defy logic.
A Long Island mother was arrested Friday for leaving her baby inside a hot car while she went shopping inside a mall, reports CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.
Police said the jet black Mercedes was parked directly in the blistering sunlight, with the engine turned off. A couple of windows were barely cracked -- in the back -- and alone a 14-month-old toddler -- strapped into a car seat – was left sweltering. Frantic shoppers in the Big H Shopping Center nervously dialed 911.
"The officers located a small female child in the back seat of the car sweating profusely. We immediately removed her from the car and placed her in the air conditioned marked unit. The mother subsequently came out to the car from one of the stores. She had no explanation," Suffolk County Police Lt. Michael Montovano said.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall: Police Say She Was Left Alone For 15 Minutes
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Returning to her new Mercedes the baby's mother spotted patrol cars and officers said she wondered what all the commotion was about. Aimee Rachlin, 26, of upscale Old Brookville seemed to dismiss the concern, saying she was just in the stores for 15 minutes. Rachlin was stunned when police placed her under arrest. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, reports WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
The crying baby was treated inside the patrol car and quickly recovered. But police said they cannot recall such a reckless decision -- a mother going inside an air conditioned store to shop and leaving her baby unattended inside a black car in 100-degree heat.
"Oh my goodness. People don't realize you just do that, can't leave children or pets in car, that's terrible!" shopper Gina Mars said.
Rachlin was released on stationhouse bail. The baby was treated to cold water and fruit snacks while waiting for her grandmother to pick her up at the police station.
Fortunately, the baby did not need medical attention. The Department of Social Services is investigating.
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