Mother arrested after leaving child in car

A mother was arrested after police said she left her two-year-old child while she went shopping Thursday afternoon.

El Centro police and fire crews said they responded around noon to a shopping area located at Bradshaw Ave. and Imperial Ave. Police found a small child in a vehicle and the vehicle was not running, was locked, and with the windows rolled up. Temperatures were well over 100 degrees and police estimated the temperature inside the vehicle was over 140 degrees.

Firefighters broke out the window to rescue the child who was found unresponsive in the back seat. The two-year-old was treated for heat exhaustion, then became responsive, and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

Officers found the child’s mother at a store and arrested her for endangering the life of her child.

Authorities are still investigating the incident and Child Protective Services was reached for assistance.