It was a nightmare for a Brevard mother of two earlier this week. She accidentally locked her 11-month-old in her car in a Walmart parking lot. It was just after 1pm Tuesday afternoon and it was a hot day. The call went over the Brevard County police radio. Walmart parking lot, says there’s a baby trapped in the car. The vehicle is not moving and the windows are open, the baby is trapped in the car seat,” the first responder said. Detective Miguel Melendez heard the call from just around the corner. “I reacted immediately because I was literally about 30 seconds away. I got to the parking lot and saw the mother crying and screaming,” Melendez said. The mother was with her other child, people began to gather, and Officer Melendez knew that action had to be taken quickly. “I immediately saw the baby crying, sweating,” he said. He was looking for a way to get the 11-month-old baby out. “It was extremely hot. So I decided to go to the passenger side. With the help of the Walmart staff, they came to help us. They brought some tools,” Melendez said. “But then again, some tools get delayed if you don’t know how to use them properly. I couldn’t wait. So we decided to smash the passenger window.” The mother told him that the child had snatched the car keys around her neck just as the door closed. Fire and rescue services arrived and found that the baby was fine. With warmer weather not too far away, the incident is a good reminder of the steps you can take to protect your family and yourself from this kind of situation. Always keep an extra key ring or set of keys in a second place, in your bag, your pocket or even at home. “They also have the window punching tools. They sell them in every local store,” Melendez said. “That will be easier to get into the vehicle because by the time 911 is on the scene or the police are on the scene, time could be wasted.” If you encounter someone or an animal in a vehicle that is clearly in distress, you can act to “Call 911 and if you acted in good faith, the police will not go after you because you acted in good faith as a citizen” Melendez said. Key Headlines: Sheriff: Brevard County deputies, Walmart employees rescue 11-month-old child trapped in hot car ‘He had a very bright future’: Friends recall young victims killed in deadly two-plane crash in Central FloridaNumber of Floridians insured by Citizens Property Insurance triple as private insurers raise rates
It was a nightmare for a Brevard mother of two earlier this week. She accidentally locked her 11-month-old child in her car in a Walmart parking lot.
It was a little after 1pm Tuesday afternoon and it was a hot day.
The call went out on Brevard County Law Enforcement Radio.
“There’s a motorist in the Walmart parking lot saying there’s a baby trapped in the car. The vehicle is not moving and the windows are open, the baby is trapped in the car seat,” the first responder said.
Investigative agent Miguel Melendez heard the call around the corner.
“I reacted immediately because I was literally about 30 seconds away. I got to the parking lot and saw the mother crying and screaming,” Melendez said.
The mother was with her other child, people began to gather, and Officer Melendez knew that action had to be taken quickly.
“I immediately saw the baby crying and sweating,” he said.
He was looking for a way to get the 11-month-old baby out.
“It was extremely hot. So I decided to go to the passenger side. With the help of the Walmart staff, they came to help us. They brought some tools,” Melendez said. “But then again, some tools get delayed if you don’t know how to use them properly. I couldn’t wait. So we decided to break the passenger window.”
The mother told him that the child had the car keys around her neck just as the door closed. Fire and rescue services arrived and found that the baby was fine.
With warmer weather not too far away, the incident is a good reminder of the steps you can take to protect your family and yourself from this kind of situation.
Always keep an extra key ring or set of keys in a second place, in your handbag, your pocket or even at home.
“They also have the tools for punching out windows. They sell them in every local store,” Melendez said. “That will be easier to get into the vehicle because by the time 911 gets there or the police are on the scene, time could be wasted.”
If you come across someone or an animal in a vehicle that is clearly in distress, you can take action to get them out.
“Call 911 and if you acted in good faith, the police will not go after you because you acted in good faith as a citizen,” Melendez said.
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