A 1-year-old’s babysitter allegedly left the infant in a car as she shopped at Rotterdam Square Mall.
The Rotterdam Police Department on Friday, July 13, at approximately 12:20 p.m., received a call claiming an infant was left unattended in a vehicle at the mall. Police allegedly found the 1-year-old inside the locked vehicle, with windows rolled up and the car not running, according to police reports.
Patrolman Claude Sawyer proceeded to enter the vehicle by removing the side window, due to the “extremely hot temperature,” according to police. Sawyer administered first aid to the infant until EMS arrived.
The child’s babysitter, Shanika M. Maxwell, 35, of Robinson Street, Schenectady, allegedly left the infant in the vehicle for approximately 43 minutes as she shopped, according to police.
The infant was transported to Ellis Hospital by Rotterdam EMS and didn’t appear to have suffered “any serious health issues” during initial examination, police said.
Maxwell was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. She was released on an appearance ticket to return to Rotterdam Town Court on Aug. 13.
