A Utah woman is accused of leaving her 4-year-old son in a hot car as "punishment," police said.
Jesica Lee Brown, 28, was arrested July 2 and charged with child abuse and child endangerment, KUTV reported. Police also said the boy was sitting within reach of a needle the woman had used to inject heroin, according to KSTU.
According to a probable cause statement, a Draper police officer did a welfare check at Draper City Park on July 2 at 9 p.m., the television station reported. The person who called to complain told police the child was in a "time out" inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up, KUTV reported. The windows were rolled up for "punishment purposes," the complainant said.
>> 11-month old dies after being left in hot car for 16 hours, authorities say
The officer making the welfare check said the temperature was 82 degrees when the boy was found, KUTV reported.
According to the probable cause statement, Brown told police she was punishing the boy because he was "acting out," KSTU reported. One officer reported the boy was sweating and had puffy eyes, the television station reported.
One officer spoke with Brown, who he said admitted to using methamphetamines and heroin, according to the probable cause statement. After receiving consent, the officer looked in Brown's purse and found a used syringe, KUTV reported. The officer also found pieces of drug paraphernalia that were related to heroin use, according to the probable cause statement.
Needles were also found near where the boy was sitting, according to the probable cause statement.
The child was placed into the care of relatives, KSTU reported. It was unclear how long the boy had been in the car alone.
About the Author
