(S.C.) 7-year-old threw beach sand at brother, so mom put him in a hot car as punishment

[left-of-center2012]

A child was left in a hot car near a Garden City Beach, S.C., after throwing sand at his younger brother, according to a report. The boys’ mom is now accused of cruelty to children. Horry County police went to the Calhoun Drive Beach access around 1:30 Wednesday for a report of child abuse. A witness flagged down the officer and pointed him towards a car with a 7-year-old inside, according to a police report.

The doors were unlocked, and the car was hot inside, police said. The victim seemed flushed and scared. He was also hesitant to speak to the officer. Slowly, the child told the officer that his mom, Destiny Leann Brogan, got mad after he threw sand at his young brother, according to the report. Brogan spanked the child and put him in the car with the windows closed, the youngster said.

The witness told police he saw Brogan drag the 7-year-old by his arm from the beach. He saw Brogan spank the child a few times, grab the child by the neck and pushed him in the vehicle, the report states.

As the officer checked on the 7-year-old, Brogan returned from the beach with the other child and asked what was happening. Brogan said she never put the child in the vehicle, but spanked him and told him to come to the beach when he was ready, the report states.

EMS checked the victim, who was OK, and police arrested Brogan. Cruelty to children is punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Brogan is being held in J. Reuben Long without bail set in her case.

https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/crime/article242398196.html

[Demovictory9]

1. not smart...she could have forgotten, left him a few minutes too long

cruel and stupid

[left-of-center2012]

2. Isn't throwing sand a typical 'kid' thing?

[stopdiggin]

3. yeah. but ...

you're probably not suggesting that all typical kid "things" .. like picking (endlessly) on a younger sibling, or dashing into the street .. should go without correction? This parent chose a poor (and quite possibly negligent and dangerous) form of discipline. But that doesn't mean that the child wasn't due for correction.

[LizBeth]

4. The kid was 7. If he was hot he could open the door or even step out. He is not a baby strapped into

a car seat lacking abilities.

[dewsgirl]

6. I live in Florida, this is child abuse plain and simple.

[LizBeth]

7. I disagree. I do not know what the state has to do with it. But a 7 yr old in a car is not danger.

[dewsgirl]

8. A child in a hot car is very much in danger.

In Florida accidents happen leaving children and pets dead every summer. What if the doors accidently locked, the mother lost track of time, got delayed for some reason? All kinds of scenarios could lead to a tragic outcome.

[LizBeth]

9. The SEVEN yr old puts hand on handle and opens door. No, it is not dangerous. The witness saw mother

put kid in car. Saw a cop and flag him down. They had conversation, opened the door and then turned to talk to mother. Not only could the kid get out of the car, but the mom came back obviously in very little time. But no.... Gotta arrest the mom. Want to get her for physical assault for hitting the kid on the ass one or two times? ok. Go for it. But the kid was not in danger dying in the car and this is stupid to argue he was.

[No Vested Interest]

10. Situation better/safer if Mom had put the car window(s) down.

Likely the child could have opened the car door if necessary, but we do not know enough about the family dynamics to say for sure.
There may have been threats past or present by Mother re 7 year old's behavior.
I think holding her in jail is a little over the top.
A stern talking-to/warning by officer may have been enough.

[Midnight Writer]

11. Unless the child is afraid of worse consequences from Mother for disobeying.

Sadly, some children live in mortal fear of their parents.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. this

[left-of-center2012]

5. You're correct

I'm NOT suggesting anything.