On August 15, 2013 at approximately 7:20 p.m. a concerned citizen called police after observing a child was left alone in a running vehicle in a parking lot of a toy store near Calgary Trail and 39 Avenue.
EPS Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT) responded to the call however the vehicle was no longer at the reported location.
Upon further investigations, police discovered that the five year-old was allegedly secured in the back seat but unbelted themselves and was revving the engine. The child was left alone for about 30 minutes while the mother was shopping.
“Although the windows were left down in 20 degree weather, leaving a child alone in a vehicle is simply not safe,” says Sgt. Gary Willits with CARRT.
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, the mother, 33-years-old, was charged with abandoning a child. She was also charged under the Child Youth Family Enhancement Act with willfully cause a child to be in need of intervention.
With school back in session, the EPS encourages parents not to leave children unattended in vehicles while dropping off other children.