03:40 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 9, 2007
03:40 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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TIGARD -- A mother was arrested earlier this week after leaving her infant in the car on a hot day and going shopping, police said.
When Hong Thi Huynh returned to her minivan after spending between 20 and 30 minutes at Lowe’s home improvement store in Tigard Monday afternoon, her 13-month-old baby was in an ambulance nearby, said Tigard Police Department spokesman Jim Wolf.
Paramedics were about to transport the overheated baby, who had a temperature of 105, to the hospital, according to Wolf.
Police arrested Huynn, but not without a fight.
“At one point she turned… and kicked the officer in the knee,” Wolf said. The officer took her into custody on charges including criminal mistreatment, child neglect and resisting arrest.
A concerned customer had noticed the infant in the minivan at about 2:30 p.m. and called police.
“At the time, the child appeared to be slumped over,” Wolf said.
One window was about four inches open, and the responding paramedic was able to get his arm through the crack and unlock the door.
Police said the incident serves as a reminder never to leave children or pets in the car on a warm day. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise very high, very quickly, even with windows cracked open.
“There is no margin of safety. It should never be done,” Wolf said.
In Oregon, it is against the law to leave a child under the age of 11 unattended in a car.