Occurred on 8/15/12, 8:33 pm  Child Abandonment   4320 S. Alameda 1208150152 

Officers were dispatched to the H.E.B. parking lot for a child who was left unattended in a blue Chevrolet Cobalt.  Upon their arrival, Officers observed the infant slumped over the side of his rear facing car seat.  Officers report the child was drenched in sweat, but still breathing. 

As the Officer was checking the car doors, a witness and unknown male forced a cracked window down and unlocked the door.  The infant was taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  At the time of the report, the 6-month-old was listed in stable condition. 

Officers paged the owner of the Cobalt and located the baby’s grandmother who was accompanied by her boyfriend and granddaughter.  The grandmother told Police she dropped off the baby’s mother at home and was unaware her grandchild was still in the car.   

The Criminal Investigation Division Detectives will coordinate their investigation with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, especially during the hot summer months.  The temperature in a vehicle can rise quickly and be deadly.   In the state of Texas criminal charges can be filed if you knowingly or intentionally left your child in your vehicle.  

According to the Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.10. LEAVING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is:

(1) younger than seven years of age; and
(2) is not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class “C” misdemeanor, but if the child is injured, the charge is elevated to child endangerment, which is a felony.

The month of August is Purple Ribbon Month representing Never Leave Your Child Alone.  Call 911 immediately if you see a child in an unattended vehicle.  Help us protect the most vulnerable in our community.