On February 16 at approximately 1046 hours Trooper Isabelle of the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack was dispatched to respond to the Dollar General at 1213 Shopping Center Drive, Stevensville, QA Co. MD for reports of a young child left inside a running vehicle without any parents in view.
Upon Trooper Isabelle’s arrival, he located the vehicle which was running and unlocked with one young child inside the vehicle in a car seat. The Trooper was also contacted by a witness who stated that he had been standing with the car for twenty minutes prior to the Troopers arrival. A few minutes later a subject came out of the Dollar General and approached the vehicle. The subject was later identified as Antwaine Eric Wilson, the father of the child. Wilson advised that the child was a year and a half old.
Investigation revealed that Wilson was shopping in the Dollar General with his son being left unattended for approximately 32 minutes. Witnesses stated that Wilson did not appear to be in any hurry while inside the store, and only exited the store when the Trooper arrived.
Wilson refused to cooperate with police during the initial investigation and was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with Neglect of a Minor and Confine Unattended Child. The child was released to his mother.
The Maryland State Police and local law enforcement agencies would advise Parents and Guardians not to leave children unattended and of the dangers therein. Furthermore, such actions would result in legal repercussions. This is the second such case of child neglect in three weeks.
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