Dallas police arrested two people accused of leaving a 7-month-old girl in a hot car on Sunday afternoon while they went shopping.
The baby's mother, Dulce Alvarez, 23, and Jesus Sarinana, 32, were charged with child endangerment. Police said the couple left 7-month-old Michelle Alvarez in the car for at least 30 minutes.
Police said a shopper in the parking lot in the 1500 block of Cockrell Hill heard Michelle, who was strapped in her car seat and sweating, crying. The man told police the car doors were unlocked.
He went into the store to have employees announce that a child had been left in a vehicle. When no one responded, he called police.
Sgt. Gil Cerda said Dulce Alvarez and Sarinana admitted they had left Michelle in the car.
"They told officers that yes, they had left the child in there unattended, so they were both arrested for endangering a child," Cerda said.
The baby was checked out by Dallas Fire Rescue. She is now in the custody of Child Protective Services. The agency will conduct an investigation of its own.
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Alvarez and Sarinana are each being held on $5,000 bond, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Police said children should never be left alone inside vehicles.
