Lake Wales Mother Arrested After Leaving Child Alone in Hot Vehicle

A Lake Wales mother was arrested after leaving her three-year-old child unattended in a vehicle while she kept an appointment at the Central Florida Health Care clinic on Thursday morning.

Courtesy Lake Wales Police Department

Jykerria Allen of Lake Wales was arrested and charged with a third degree felony after leaving her child alone in a hot vehicle on Thursday morning while she kept a medical appointment.

Jykerria Allen of Lake Wales was told by clinic staff that she couldn't' keep the child with her during her appointment. She told staff she would have a relative retrieve the child, but allegedly simply left the child alone in the vehicle.

A witness reportedly heard the child crying and alerted clinic staff, who brought the child inside the clinic. The child had been alone in the car for approximately one hour, according to witnesses.

The Lake Wales Fire Department responded to the scene, which was next door to the fire station at 305 Central Avenue West. The response team was on-scene rendering aid when Allen learned the police had been notified. She then left the clinic with the child.

Allen was located by Lake Wales Police a short time later and was found driving with the child unrestrained in the vehicle. Allen did not have a car seat in the vehicle for the child, according to police.

Allen admitted she lied to clinic staff about calling a family member to pick the child up and she left the child unattended in her car during her appointment. The vehicle was not running and the windows were partially down. According to police an internal temperature reading of approximately 93 degrees was taken inside the vehicle after the child was removed, and after the doors were opened. Medical personnel on scene reported that the child was apparently not injured and did not appear to be suffering from any heat related illnesses. The child was placed in the custody of an adult family member.

Allen was charged with Child Neglect, a third-degree felony, and Leaving a Child in an unattended vehicle for over 15 minutes, a second degree misdemeanor. She also received a civil traffic citation for operating a motor vehicle with an unrestrained child.