Mom Leaves 7-Year-Old and His Puppy in Hot Car: Police

A Rockville mother reportedly left water for a puppy and Gatorade and a cell phone with her 7-year-old son, then left them alone in a car while she shopped for 90 minutes at Gaithersburg’s Lakeforest Mall, authorities allege.

Joshalin Evans, 30, is charged with three felony counts for leaving her son and his puppy in her car Monday afternoon when the temperature reached 90 degrees, reports WJLA TV. She is out of jail on bail.

A shopper who saw the boy and dog sitting in Evans' white Nissan Sentra called 911. The child told police his mother had left water for the dog, but not for him. The boy also reportedly told officers his mother regularly leaves him unattended inside vehicles.

Gaithersburg Police Officer Dan Lane said the boy and dog were found in the car outside of Sears about 12:41 p.m. Officers found the car’s windows were down; a water bowl was left for the dog, according to the police report.

“He said he was waiting for his mom while she shopped at the mall,” Lane told Montgomery Community Media.

Police took the boy and the puppy into an air-conditioned cruiser while they searched for Evans. They found her about 1:55 p.m.

“She came out of the mall walking toward the vehicle when she was approached by officers and arrested,” Lane said on the community website.

Evans’ attorney, Rebecca Nitkin, told the TV station her client had left water and food for the dog, and Gatorade, food and a cell phone for her son. Nitkin says Evans’ son did not want to go inside the mall, so she parked the car in the shade, but the sun moved.

Evans is charged with second-degree attempted child abuse, reckless endangerment and neglect of a minor, according to Maryland online court records. If Evans is found guilty on all three felony counts, a judge could sentence her to up to 25 years in state prison.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Lohr focused on the dangers of leaving kids in hot vehicles in his recent summer safety message.

Dog Rescued from Truck Tuesday

The dangers of leaving animals, as well as people, in cars was again illustrated on Tuesday in Anne Arundel County. Police broke a window out of a pickup truck to rescue a dog in distress, then cited the owner for leaving the animal alone in the truck.

The incident happened in the Glen Burnie District Court parking lot, where a witness told police she noticed a dog left alone in a truck for at least 30 minutes. One of the truck’s windows was open about an inch and there was no water available for the dog, which police said appeared to be in distress.

Officers broke a window to rescue the pet, which was evaluated by a veterinarian. As a result, the pet was returned to the owner, James Humphries, 54, of Owings Mills.