Maryland Dad Charged After Police Rescue Toddler From Hot Car
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Suffolk County say a dad from Maryland left his toddler daughter in his car with the windows up while he shopped in Huntington Thursday afternoon.
A passerby walking through the parking lot of the Big H Shopping Center, located at 839 New York Ave., heard a child crying and noticed a 2-year-old girl locked in a parked 2000 Nissan Frontier that was not running and had the windows closed, according to authorities.
The Good Samaritan called 911 and police responded to the location. Officers Derek Mangi and Aaron Klein broke the vehicle's window and removed the little girl, police said.
About 10 minutes later, the girl's father, Melvin Marroquin, returned to the car after shopping inside Marshalls.
The child, who police said was lethargic and not speaking when removed from the car, was taken to Huntington Hospital for evaluation and was expected to be released to her mother.
The temperature in the car at the time the child was removed was approximately 120 degrees, police said.
Officials said Suffolk County Child Protective Services was notified of the incident.
Police said Marroquin, 30, will be held overnight at the Second Precinct and arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.
He is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree reckless endangerment.
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