Used to be people left their kids in the car, now they leave them in shopping carts at liquor store

[The Straight Story]

Woman left child in shopping cart outside Lexington liquor store, police say


Lexington police cited a woman Wednesday night on a charge of leaving her 7-month-old daughter in a shopping cart outside a liquor store.

The woman, identified as Kelly Gonzalez, was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, a misdemeanor, police Lt. C.D. Schnelle said.

...

Authorities said they think the little girl was left outside for about 10 minutes, Schnelle said. Schenelle said he didn't know how warmly the child was dressed.

The temperature in Lexington was about 26 degrees at the time, according to the National Weather Service.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/19/2034016/woman-left-child-in-shopping-cart.html#storylink=cpy

[Ian David]

1. Are children not allowed inside the liquor store? n/t

[RC]

2. Gotta be 21.

A sigh on the door says so.

[The Straight Story]

5. In Ohio you can take kid in with you

No one under 21 - without an adult.

[The Genealogist]

13. Depends on the jurisdiction and store policy, I imagine

Thirty years ago, My mother, who was quite the lush, used to take me to liquor stores and bars with her when I was little. I don't really remember anyone saying anything. In fact, I was often not the only child in the establishments. The car was not in good shape, either, and there were times she would have to stay in the car to keep it running. In those cases, I was even sent in to buy cigarettes for her. And they sold them to me. Times have changed, to be sure; I have never tried taking a child into a liquor store or bar, nor would I. I think locally, to get into a bar, a person has to be 21 now. Not sure on the liquor stores at the local level.

I also hardly ever wore seatbelts when I was a child, til they passed a law saying everyone in the front seat of a car had to wear one. About the only time I had to wear one was with my paternal grandparents, and then only on long trips.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Gonzalez?!?

[HopeHoops]

4. I've seen that way too many times. The carts have a BIG sign - DO NOT PUT KIDS IN CART.

I'll frequently see two or more in the same cart (and these are not full-sized grocery carts - not even close), or one in the cart standing up and another wandering around playing with booze bottles while the parent carefully selects the most advertised brand because God (the TV) told them to buy it.

As for not being allowed in stores, younger kids are never kept out of wine/liquor/beer stores in PA. When they get to the "might be trying to buy it illegally" age, then there can be problems. Mine are all in that range now so I won't take them in anymore, but I have many times when they were younger. NH was the same way. They're also old enough to sit in a car alone and old enough to stay at home alone, and have been for a long time.

Probably the biggest source of such incidents around here is kids being left in cars while the parent (singular, every time I've read about it) went into a casino to gamble. In one case a couple of years ago, the outside temperature was close to 100. The cops broke a window to get the kid out. I never found out how his court/sentencing went, but that's just disgusting.

[Snake Alchemist]

6. Wait, they cited her and let her keep the child? nt

[MattBaggins]

8. Of course

[Cerridwen]

7. Another article 'reports' she drove away; returned 45 minutes later

and was arrested at that time. The same article says she has a total of 4 children now in custody of child welfare.

Lexington Police have charged a woman they say drove away from a liquor store, leaving her baby in a shopping cart outside.

Police charged 24-year-old Kelly Gonzales with endangering the welfare of a minor, according to WKYT-TV (http://bit.ly/w3ZlOw ).

A customer found the 7-month-old girl Wednesday night and police were called. The baby had been outside for about 10 minutes in chilly weather.

Authorities said Gonzales returned to the store about 45 minutes later and was arrested. The baby did not require medical attention.

The baby's grandmother said social services took custody of all four of Gonzales' children.

Note the age of the child in the title of the article versus the body of the article. As I type this; the title says 10 months and the article says 7 months. This is only to point out the sloppy nature of 'reporting' these days.

http://www.14news.com/story/16556163/mother-arrrested-for-leaving-10-month-old-in-shoppng-cart

edit for my sloppy typing

[Snake Alchemist]

9. At least they took the children into custody. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

11. What are the chances she has ever forgotten the liquor in the cart? nt

[Cerridwen]

12. More info from video at link below

Kelly Gonzalez, a friend, and Gonzalez's 2-year-old and 7-month-old went to the liquor store. While there, Gonzalez's friend was shoplifting. When they left, they took the 2-year-old and forgot the 7-month-old. They were 45 minutes away when Gonzalez remembered the 7-month-old. She (they?) returned to the store to retrieve the 7-month-old. The police were waiting for her (them?). The father is hoping to pick up all 4 of the children from social services 'tomorrow.'

Link to article with video report: http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Mother__137640163.html