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Man Charged After His Children Are Left In Car

FREDERICK, Md. (WJZ) --It's the kind of story that makes most parents want to cringe. Two young children were left alone in a car in the bitter cold.

Derek Valcourt has more on how a fast-acting store employee in Frederick may have saved their lives.

Temperatures were well below freezing Tuesday afternoon when a Wal-Mart employee spotted a toddler and baby alone in a car.

The Wal-Mart employee called 911 and waited at the car for Frederick County sheriff's deputies to arrive.

Inside the car they found a 5-month-old baby and a 4-year-old boy alone. Their father, 41-year-old Anisur Rahman, emerged from the store moments later and was placed under arrest.

"You cannot leave a child under the age of 8, whether it be a home or a vehicle, alone. Mr. Rahman's children were much younger than that," said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, Frederick Co. Sheriff's Department.

Using Wal-Mart surveillance camera footage, deputies were able to determine that the father had been inside the store shopping for more than 20 minutes.

On that Tuesday the temperature in Frederick was 24 degrees with a wind chill of just 11.

The children were found to be OK and were released to their mother while Rahman was charged with two misdemeanor child abuse charges of confining an unattended child.

He's now out of jail. He was home but refused to answer the door at his Point of Rocks home.

"I think he should be prosecuted," said Ashley Reynolds.

The story is upsetting to many parents.

"It's not right," said Charlie Holt. "You can't leave a little one in a car like that."

"I would hate to think of my kids out in the freezing cold while I was shopping. I can't imagine doing that," Reynolds said.

If convicted, Rahman faces the possibility of up to 60 days in prison and $1,000 in fines.

The next court hearing for the accused father is set for March 6.

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