Long Island (hrhsnews) – A Long Island father left his 2-year-old son inside a car for roughly 20 minutes during Tuesday’s dangerous 100-degree heat — all so he could shop at Walmart, police said.
Authorities said 36-year-old Keniarold Andre allegedly left the toddler inside a Toyota Highlander in the Centereach Walmart parking lot around 1:40 p.m., with the engine off and only a small crack in the window, as scorching temperatures broke records.
A sharp-eyed good Samaritan spotted the child sleeping and quickly called 911.
Officers managed to unlock the vehicle through the window and safely pulled the child out, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Andre returned to the car while EMTs were checking on his son.
Police arrested him on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The toddler was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Authorities said the child will be released to a family member soon.
Andre is scheduled to appear for arraignment Wednesday in First Central District Court in Central Islip.
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