Las Vegas woman charged with abuse after leaving baby in car
Police booking logs have identified the mother arrested after leaving her baby alone in a car Saturday afternoon in a grocery store parking lot.
Keshelle Dickson, 23, faces one felony count of child abuse or neglect, jail records show.
At 3:45 p.m. Saturday, police were called to the Smith’s at 6130 W. Tropicana Ave., after a person who spotted the baby in the vehicle called 911. The car had a window cracked open, but police said the air conditioning was not on.
It’s unclear how long the baby had been left unattended.
“The baby appears to be in good health,” Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Brian Cole said Saturday evening.
Dickson was found inside the grocery store, police said. The baby’s father came to the scene and took custody of the child.
The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services is also investigating.
The temperature high was about 106 degrees at the time police were called, according to the National Weather Service.
Dickson is being at the Clark County Detention Center on $5,000 bail.
Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter.
Safety tips
Children should never be left in cars, even if a window is cracked open, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures.
- To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front seat with the driver.
- When leaving the car, check to make sure everyone is out of the car and do not overlook children who have fallen asleep in the car.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible; and stay hydrated.
