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Father leaves 10-month-old baby in car in Salisbury, police say

By Alexa Ashwell
By Alexa Ashwell

SALISBURY, N.C. — A Rowan County father could face child abuse charges after police said he left his baby in the car.

It was 93 degrees in Salisbury Sunday when a customer walking into Lowe’s noticed the baby girl alone in a parked car. Officials said the engine was off, windows were up and the doors were unlocked.

Police said the customer ran and got a manager, who opened the unlocked door and pulled the girl from the hot car.

With no parent in sight, the manager carried the baby into the air conditioned building and contacted police who then notified Department of Social Services.

"While this was going on the mother of the child came running up looking for the baby," said Capt. Shelia Lingle, with the Salisbury Police Department.

Lingle said the father of the child had dropped off the mother at a nearby store.  He then walked into the Lowe's, but evidently forgot the baby was in the backseat.

It's unclear how long the child was in the hot car.  Officials said and parents agree it was certainly hot enough that day that any amount of time but the child's life in danger.

"It's very dangerous," Brad Taylor, who lives in Salisbury, said.  "I can't even stay outside five-10 minutes in this heat without being affected."

Taylor has a 2-year-old son.  He said he always puts the baby's bag in the front seat when he's traveling as a reminder his child is in the backseat.

"As parents, you can have so much going on.  It doesn't take but a second," said Taylor.  "Especially if it's out of your routine."

The child wasn't seriously hurt. 

Residents said they're thankful to the customer for being so observant and to the manager for taking quick action.

"There are a lot of good people like that in the world," said Mark Wagner, as he was walking into Lowe's. "You just have to be in the right place at the right (time)."

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