An individual is facing accusations of child abuse in North Carolina after allegedly leaving a running van unattended with a 3-year-old inside. According to investigators, a stranger entered the vehicle and drove away.
According to the High Point Police Department, the child was discovered abandoned, along with the van, approximately 1 mile away.
An individual has been apprehended. An incident occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, outside the Food Lion store in High Point, which is located about 80 miles northeast of Charlotte.
“A man told officers he went inside the store and left his van running with his three-year-old child inside. When he came out of the store, he said someone was driving his van out of the parking lot,” police said.
“About ten minutes later, an officer found the van abandoned with the child inside. … The child was not injured.”
A suspect, aged 31, was discovered at approximately 9:10 p.m., strolling in the 400 block of S. Main Street, according to authorities. The individual was taken into custody and accused of serious crimes including first-degree kidnapping, abduction of children, felony larceny, and possession of stolen goods.
“The child’s father was cited for misdemeanor child abuse and having an unattended vehicle left running at a public place,” police said.