A mother was cited for leaving her two young children in the car while she went shopping.
The police report stated on Jan. 28 around 11:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Walmart at 1868 Warrensville Center Road in South Euclid for a report of a child crying in an unoccupied car in the store parking lot.
When police arrived, a deputy was already at the car speaking with the parents of the children. The deputy, who was working security for the store that night, said an anonymous customer told him they heard a child crying in a car with no adult supervision. The deputy went to the parking lot and found two small children in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla with dark tinted windows. The deputy then contacted South Euclid police.
Officers spoke with the driver, later identified as Hope Perkins. Police learned Perkins was the mother of the 4-year-old and 1-year-old found in the car.
WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE TO SEE THE MOTHER'S ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE
Perkins said she and the children's father, later identified as Deontai Butler, went into the store for what Perkins said was a short time. Store surveillance showed Perkins and Butler were in the store and left the kids in the car alone for nearly an hour. The car was turned off and the outside temperature was 32 degrees.
