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SALT LAKE CITY — Police say they removed a toddler who was inside a parked car for about 30 minutes Wednesday and have arrested her mother.
Akilah Davis, 36, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of felony child abandonment.
Around 5 p.m., the child was spotted by someone who had seen a woman park the car in a 45-minute parking stall on the side of the street about 30 minutes earlier by 300 South and 500 West, then walk toward The Road Home homeless shelter, said Salt Lake Police Lt. Robin Heiden.
Heiden said the passerby flagged down a Utah Transit Authority officer, soon after which the 21-month-old girl was safely removed from the car. The girl was not hurt.
The toddler's mother returned to the car about 7:30 p.m. and was arrested, Heiden said.
Police planned to place the child in the care of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.
Heiden said the ordeal was a good reminder, in advance of warmer weather, to never leave children unattended in parked cars.
