This morning, a three-year-old child was found unattended in a vehicle, thanks to an observant citizen. The child’s mother was subsequently arrested.
The following is a statement of the incident provided by the Lake Wales Police Department:
“On August 29, 2024, at approximately 10:05 A.M., the Lake Wales Police Department responded to Central Florida Health Care, located at 305 Central Avenue West, in reference to a small child being left unattended in a car.
“The Lake Wales Fire Department was on-scene rendering aid to a 3 year old child. Detectives learned the mother of the child, 29 year old Lake Wales resident Jykerria Allen, was told by clinic staff she could not bring the child into the back office during her appointment. Allen told staff she would have a family member come pick up the child during her appointment. However, she left the child in her car unsupervised and unattended for approximately one hour.
“A witness heard the child crying and alerted clinic staff, who brought the child inside the clinic. When Allen learned the police had been notified she left the clinic with the child.
“Based on information provided by witnesses, officers were able to locate Allen driving her vehicle within minutes of her leaving. When officers conducted the traffic stop, the child was located in the car, unrestrained. Allen did not have a car seat in the vehicle for the child.
“Allen admitted she lied to clinic staff about calling a family member to pick the child up and she left the child unattended in her car during her appointment. The vehicle was not running and the windows were partially down.
“An internal temperature reading of the vehicle after the child was removed and after the doors were opened was approximately 93 degrees. Thankfully, the child was not injured and did not appear to be suffering from any heat related illnesses. The child was placed in the care of another adult family member.
“Allen was placed under arrest for Child Neglect (F3), Leaving a Child in an unattended vehicle for over 15 minutes (M2) and received a civil traffic citation for operating a motor vehicle with an unrestrained child.”
