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Comment by XLFD on June 8, 2015 at 9:31am

The dad was eventually identified and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, arrested and subsequently released.  I am in agreement with you two.  It's stupid to leave your vehicle running in a parking lot when you cannot react in time to someone getting in and driving off, like Herrmann could have done if he had the notion.  Leaving your young toddler in their as well is even stupider, but stupidity is not a crime, thank heavens.  Is it criminal negligence or child endangerment? 

Hard to say, but if the man had been just a few car lengths away outside of the store monitoring the situation as he took care of his business, I would find it difficult to fault him.  It is arguably less safe for the child to be walking around the parking lot, especially if we claim the dad is inattentive.

Comment by AQUAMAN on June 6, 2015 at 10:16pm

Not enough information to make a completely educated decision imho. What's the temp.? How old is kid? Did kid scream for help or crying for air? From what I saw and without this info., all I can say is dad should not leave truck running. Kid looked totally preoccupied with some game though, not old enough to escape from seat restraint, and not suffocating or freezing to death. He could be kidnapped though. Also, Mark Herrmann and others need to mind their own business, esp. if no immediate threat is at hand.  

Comment by Willy on June 6, 2015 at 4:01pm

Leaving the kid in the car especially with the keys in it is just about as stupid as it gets, however, turning the man in to protective services is pretty darned stupid as well. If the child is being abused [truly abused] then the authorities should  be involved with the family but if not then all that's needed is to just explain to the dad that he made a mistake, then let it go. Getting Government agencies to stick there noses into peoples private lives is no way to solve problems.