Mother Out On Bail After Child Left In Hot Car
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- A Rockville mother is out on bond after police say she left her 7-year-old son and puppy inside a sweltering hot car.
As Rick Ritter reports, police say when they found the mother, she was more concerned about the welfare of her dog then her own son.
The child told officers his mother left water for the dog and not for him. He said it wasn't the first time his mother left him inside of a blistering hot car.
Monday afternoon at a Gaithersburg mall, police say Joshalin Evans left her 7-year-old son and puppy in a scorching hot car for at least 90 minutes.
"We're talking about children. There's nothing more precious than children," said Lt. T.J. Smith of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Charging documents reveal the 30-year-old's little boy was found "very sweaty" and "seated in direct sunlight" while the puppy had "signs of heat exhaustion."
"No matter where you go, you can always take your children," said Amy Yankell an Anne Arundel County resident.
It's just the latest case of child neglect with Maryland ties. On July 3, New York police arrested a Dundalk father for leaving his 2-year-old daughter in a sweltering truck.
Police say the little girl was "lethargic" when rescued.
"She was all red and she was drenched with like water," said one witness.
Lt.T.J. Smith says the cases are becoming more common. Over the last month alone, police in Anne Arundel County have had 5 similar incidents.
"We had a dog death in Anne Arundel County. We had to break a window to get a dog out of a car on an extremely hot day," he said.
Adults have been leaving their children and pets inside of boiling cars, hopeless.
"We've seen enough tragedy, I don't know what more people need to see," said Smith.
Officials say since 1998, more than 500 children have died in hot cars across the United States. Even when outside temperatures are in the 60's, car interiors can still reach well over 110 degrees.
" This is not a good practice. Not for five minutes,not for a minute."
Lieutenant Smith says it's simply common sense, and education shouldn't be priority.
"We shouldn't even have to do this, but sadly enough it's been proven, time and time again that we have to," said Smith.
Police are urging the public to be attentive. If you see a child or pet left in the car, call police immediately.
The mother's defense attorney says her client parked her car in the shade with the windows down but the sun moved while she was inside the mall.
Evans is being charged with 3 felony counts including neglect of a minor.
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