A northwestern Florida woman was jailed after allegedly leaving her toddler alone on a playground in extreme heat while she went to work a shift at a nearby shopping center.
The Silver Sands Premium Outlets in Miramar Beach is home to over 100 stores. A park is located on the premises, providing patrons with a place to spend time with their children while taking breaks during their shopping excursions. Early in the afternoon on June 15, someone in the vicinity of the playground spotted a youngster who was later revealed to be 3 years old playing on the park equipment. The boy was reportedly there for nearly an hour before he wandered away from the park. The individual who had seen him earlier thought the child was going to run into the street, so they intervened and stopped the toddler before he reached the road. When the person tried and failed to find an adult responsible for the youngster, they located a security officer and explained the situation to her.
Just after 1:00 PM, the authorities were notified, and deputies from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office went to Silver Sands to investigate. According to the police report, someone saw the man as he grabbed the child to keep him from running into traffic. When the toddler’s mother arrived, she informed the deputies that she was employed at a fragrance store in the outlet mall. She had to go to work, and she said she kept an eye on the boy and arranged for a friend to pick him up.
The woman was taken into custody and booked into the Walton County Jail. She is facing a preliminary charge for one count of child neglect without great bodily harm. The following day, she was released on her own recognizance.
The youngster was not harmed, but the authorities noted that it was extremely hot outside and did not believe he was left with any beverages.
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