A Florida mother has been charged with child neglect after police say she left her two young children alone in a hot car while she ran into a Walmart to pick up PediaSure, authorities said.
Background
Lovenia Brooks, 33, was arrested on July 11 after Melbourne Police Department officers responded to a call about two children found by themselves in a red Mitsubishi SUV parked outside the Walmart located on Babcock Street in Melbourne, Florida. According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, a bystander spotted the children alone in the vehicle, which was not running and had its windows rolled down.
The witness told police he observed the children unsecured in the back seat before staying by the SUV until Brooks returned from her errand inside the store. Body camera footage captured the emotional scene as officers approached the vehicle.
"The baby was actively upset and crying," an officer noted in the report, describing what they found upon arrival at the scene.
The Investigation
Surveillance video reviewed by investigators confirmed Brooks had left her children alone in the parking lot for nine minutes while she went inside Walmart. When officers questioned Brooks about why she hadn't brought her children with her into the store, she reportedly told them she was "just quickly running inside" to purchase PediaSure for one of the kids.
"She should have," Brooks admitted to police, according to the affidavit. "I was just trying to get one thing done."
According to the National Weather Service, the air temperature in Melbourne on July 11 reached 96.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and a heat advisory had been issued for the area at the time of the incident. Medical professionals note that temperatures inside parked vehicles can climb rapidly in such conditions, posing serious risks to young children.
The Charges
Brooks was charged with two counts of child neglect, both second-degree misdemeanors. In addition to the criminal charges, a traffic officer issued Brooks several citations including leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, failing to properly restrain an infant in a rear-facing car seat, and not wearing a seat belt.
Brooks underwent a medical evaluation before being booked into the Brevard County Jail on July 11. She posted bond and was released from custody on July 13.
Key Takeaways
- Brooks allegedly left her two children—including an infant—alone in a parked vehicle for nine minutes while shopping at Walmart
- The temperature reached 96.6 degrees Fahrenheit with a heat advisory in effect when the incident occurred
- A bystander stayed with the children until Brooks returned to her red Mitsubishi SUV
- Brooks faces two counts of child neglect and multiple traffic citations
- She was released after posting bond; her next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 6
What's Next
Brooks is scheduled to appear in Brevard County Court on Aug. 6 for her first appearance on the child neglect charges. The case remains under investigation by the Melbourne Police Department, and prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will seek additional charges as the investigation continues.