Albuquerque Police said Friday that a mother was arrested after leaving her 3-year-old toddler unsupervised in a heated car on Tuesday.
Police were dispatched to the parking lot of a Walgreens on Gibson Boulevard SW following a report from a worried employee who apparently heard the youngster screaming and noticed that they were strapped in a car seat while the vehicle was turned off and the windows were parted.
“This type of behavior is not only unacceptable—it’s deadly,” said Chief Harold Medina in a news release. “With temperatures reaching dangerously high levels, leaving a child in a hot car for even a few minutes can have tragic consequences. We commend the quick thinking of the Walgreens employee and the swift response from our officers in ensuring this child’s safety.”
The officer came and made contact with both the youngster, who was now outside the vehicle, and the mother, 35-year-old Gabriela Cardenas.
According to authorities, Cardenas acknowledged to leaving her child in the car unsupervised while she walked inside the store for “a couple of minutes.” According to APD, witness testimonies and camera footage show the toddler was alone in the vehicle for around six minutes.
According to APD’s news release, the outdoor temperature on the day of the event was 97 degrees.
Cardenas was arrested on the spot and charged with child endangerment. The infant was examined and appeared to be physically unhurt, but he demonstrated significant signs of heat-related suffering.
