ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A mother was arrested for leaving her 3-year-old child unattended in a hot car on Tuesday, Albuquerque Police announced Friday.
Police responded to the parking lot of a Walgreens after receiving a report from a concerned employee who reportedly heard the child crying and saw that they were strapped in a car seat while the vehicle was turned off and the windows slightly cracked.
“This type of behavior is not only unacceptable—it’s deadly,” said Chief Harold Medina in a news release. “With temperatures reaching dangerously high levels, leaving a child in a hot car for even a few minutes can have tragic consequences. We commend the quick thinking of the Walgreens employee and the swift response from our officers in ensuring this child’s safety.”
The officer arrived and made contact with both the child, who was then out of the vehicle, and the mother, 35-year-old Gabriela Cardenas.
According to police, Cardenas admitted to leaving her child in the vehicle unattended while she went inside the store for “a couple of minutes.” APD said witness accounts and surveillance indicate the child was alone in the vehicle for approximately six minutes.
APD noted in its news release that the outdoor temperature on the day of the incident was recorded at 97 degrees.
Cardenas was arrested at the scene and charged with child endangerment. The child was evaluated and appeared to be physically unharmed but showed clear signs of heat-related distress.
