A Southgate mother was arrested Monday for leaving her two children in a 90-degree car while she went inside Walmart.
According to a report by The News Herald, the incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m. on July 2 outside of a Woodhaven Walmart store. A concerned shopper noticed the children alone inside of a Chrysler Pacifica with the windows rolled up. The children were ages 1 and 6.
When police arrived on the scene, an officer began using a device to unlock the door.
According to the National Weather Service, the temperature at the time was 84 degrees outside with 70 percent humidity. Police say that inside the van, the temperature had reached higher than 90 degrees.
The 26-year-old mother returned to the vehicle about five minutes after the police arrived. She told officers that she had only been inside the store for about five minutes.
According to the police report, the children did not seem to be in distress.
The woman was cited for child abuse and taken into custody by Flat Rock police.
Police say she also had two active warrants and her license was suspended.
