TEXARKANA, Texas — An East Texas woman was arrested after police say she left her infant alone in a vehicle in a hospital parking garage.
According to the Texarkana Texas Police Department, on Friday, police were called concerning a baby locked inside a vehicle on the fourth floor of the St. Michael Hospital parking garage.
"When we got there a couple minutes later, there were already security officers and several nurses standing around the car," the TTPD said. "They told us that someone had noticed the parked car's motor was running and then saw an infant alone in a safety seat inside the car. They were able to get into the car through a window that had been left cracked and got the baby out."
While trying to find the owner of the vehicle, police say Britney Petro walked up and said the car and child were hers.
The TTPD says when they asked her why she would put her 7-month-old baby in danger by leaving her alone in a parking garage, officials say Petro claimed she couldn't find a babysitter. The TTPD says the child had been alone in the vehicle for about 45 minutes while Petro went to work and speak with her supervisor. she went into the hospital to report for her work shift and talk to her supervisor.
Petro was arrested for abandoning or endangering a child and booked into the Bi-State Jail. Child Protective Services was notified and took custody of the girl.
Petro was released from jail on Friday afternoon after posting a $50,000 bond.
