Sheriff warns against leaving young children or pets in vehicles; Violators would be booked with child desertion/ endangerment

As extreme summer temperatures have arrived. Sheriff James Pohlmann warns residents against leaving young children or pets unattended in vehicles, even if they believe it will be for only a short period.

“Don’t risk the lives of your children or pets by leaving them in hot vehicles during the high temperatures of summer,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“Even if you believe you will only be a short period of time while running into a store it is illegal to leave young children alone,” the sheriff said. “And if something happens in a store that delays you from getting back to your kids the results could be tragic.”

Numerous children nationally have died of heat effects from being left in vehicles, he said.

It happened in St. Bernard Parish in 1998 when a toddler died in the back seat of a vehicle when his father forgot him there. Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“That is something I never want to see again,” the sheriff said.

Each year, adults in St. Bernard Parish are arrested when young children are found unattended in vehicles.

Any one caught leaving children alone in vehicles will be arrested and booked with child desertion/endangerment. Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Don’t forget that as well the risk of heat exhaustion, leaving children alone in a vehicle leaves open the chance of then being abducted or molested, the sheriff said.

“You could never forgive yourself if you allowed any of those things to happen to your child because you didn’t want to bother bringing them into a store.” Sheriff Pohlmsnn said.