Martine Louis-Jacques, Miramar, Florida woman arrested after leaving year old boy alone in hot car while she went shopping at Pembroke Pines, Walmart outlet.
A Florida woman was arrested Monday after a five year old boy locked inside a car was observed ‘desperately’ banging on the window amid searing temperatures as the boy’s mother left him unattended while having gone shopping.
An arrest report stated a gray 2012 Mercedes belonging to 62 year old woman, Martine Louis-Jacques had its engine turned off, windows rolled up along with no air circulation inside the automobile.
Pembroke Pines police were called to the scene at 12800 Pines Blvd., just before 2:30 pm after the boy was seen wildly crying for help as his mom went shopping at Walmart.
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Walmart employees reported that the boy was seen “frantically” knocking on the car’s window to get their attention and appeared scared and distraught, WPLG reported.
Police said by the time Walmart employees intervened, Louis-Jacques had been in the store for about twenty minutes as the boy sat alone in the hot car.
The employees unlocked the vehicle and took the child inside, where he was eventually reunited with his mother, according to the report.
After employees brought the boy inside the store, he ran to his mother, police said. The two left the location without speaking to employees and before the arrival of law enforcement moments later at 2:51 p.m.
Authorities said surveillance footage from Walmart captured the entire incident, including Louis-Jacques parking the car and entering the store without the boy.
The Miramar resident was arrested at her home after police used CCTV to identify her car and locate her address.
Jail records show Louis-Jacques is facing one count of child neglect without great bodily harm, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
As of Tuesday, she is being held on a $3,500 bond at the Broward Main Jail.
Around 40 children die from heatstroke from being trapped in hot cars, according to Kids and Car Safety, an advocacy group.
More than 1,000 kids have died in these incidents over than last three decades.
