A mother was arrested for child endangerment after reportedly leaving her 3-year-old in a car in the heat.
Authorities said they were called to the scene in the parking lot of 100 Oaks Mall around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
They saw several people standing around a vehicle, trying to get a child out. No one knew the parent of the child or where she was.
The outside temperature was 87 degrees, and the car was off with all windows rolled up.
Police tried to open the doors, but finally had to break the glass to get into the car.
Officials said the child was dehydrated and shocked, but was breathing. The 3-year-old sat in a patrol car in front of an air vent drinking water as they waited for medics to arrive.
Medics examined her and determined she was okay, but they still took her to the hospital as a precaution.
Officials said they waited several minutes before the mother, identified as Amira Thabet Rezk, showed up.
Police said she was confused as to what was going on and told officials she didn’t know it was illegal to leave her child in the vehicle with it off and the windows up when they explained that to her.
She also told officials she had been gone for no more than five minutes; however, cameras in the area showed the car arriving there at 4:19 p.m.
Rezk was arrested and booked on a charge of child endangerment.
