The mother of a 1-year-old baby girl has been charged after police say she left the girl alone inside a car parked in a Walmart parking lot.
Police say the baby was inside a car in the parking lot of the Walmart on the 9700 block of Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia. Police suspect the child was alone inside the vehicle for a half hour.
Anthony Lopez says he was in the parking lot when he heard the child's cries for help.
"She's screaming and she's yelling," Lopez said. "She's sweating really bad. It's hot and the windows are up."
"The baby was hurt," said his wife, Ruqayah Lopez. "The way that baby was screaming you could tell. You saw the sweat through the window before she came out."
The couple called police and tried to get help from inside the store. They then tried to break into the locked car themselves.
"I panicked," Lopez said. "I went into my truck, grabbed a bat and tried to break the window."
Police soon arrived and rescued the baby. She was taken to a local hospital where she was examined. Officials say she is doing "okay."
The girl's mother, 24-year-old Jasmin Ingram of Philadelphia, was taken into custody. She was later charged with endangering the welfare of a child and child endangerment, according to sources close to the investigation. Ingram told police she was only inside the store for a few minutes, according to investigators. Police suspect the child was inside alone for half an hour however.
DHS is currently investigating the case. Officials say the child is now in the care of her biological father.
Also on NBC10.com:
Mom Suffocates Baby With Plastic Bag; DA
Man Hides Gun Used to Kill Baby in Couch: Police
WATCH: Burglars Ram Truck Into Pawn Shop, Steal Firearms
Photo Credit: NBC10.com