Honk News (Lucas County, OH) – An Ohio woman, Shaneja Gamble, 22, is facing charges of child endangerment after allegedly leaving her children in a freezing car in the parking lot of Hollywood Casino Toledo.
The incident occurred on January 5, when casino security guards spotted two children alone in an unlocked, non-running vehicle in the parking structure. The air temperature in Toledo that day was a chilling 26 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the arrest affidavit. Concerned for the children’s safety, the guards alerted an off-duty Toledo Police Department officer, who promptly intervened.
Details about how Gamble was located or what she was doing while her children were left unattended have not been disclosed. The ages of the children and their current condition also remain unclear.
Gamble was arrested the same day and booked into the Lucas County Corrections Center. She appeared in court on January 6 for her arraignment, where she pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering children and creating a substantial risk to their health or safety. She was released on her own recognizance, but no future court date was listed in court records.
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The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Similar cases have made headlines recently. In December, a Brooklyn couple was charged after leaving their six-year-old in a car outside a Pennsylvania casino during subfreezing temperatures. In a separate incident, a young mother allegedly left her infant at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Child safety advocates continue to stress the importance of never leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially in extreme weather. As this case unfolds, it underscores the critical responsibility of guardians to ensure the safety and well-being of their children at all times.