Background: The Walmart supercenter in Warrington, Pennsylvania (Google Maps). Inset: Tina DeCarla (Warrington Township Police Department).
A Pennsylvania mother is facing charges after allegedly leaving her 4-month-old baby improperly restrained in the front seat of her car while she went shopping at a Walmart.
Tina DeCarla, 42, has been charged with child endangerment and leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, according to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime. Her bail has been set at $100,000.
The incident occurred on January 10 at around 3:49 p.m. when DeCarla parked her vehicle in the Walmart parking lot on Valley Gate Drive in Warrington, a suburb near Philadelphia, as reported by the Warrington Township Police Department. Just six minutes later, she left her car and entered the store.
During her time inside, a customer noticed an infant asleep in the vehicle, secured in an unauthorized front-facing restraint in the front seat, according to the police. More than 20 minutes later, DeCarla returned to her car.
A witness reportedly requested that DeCarla remain in the parking lot until authorities arrived, but she left the scene before officers could question her. The police investigation led to a warrant being issued for her arrest.
Six days after the incident, law enforcement officers apprehended DeCarla at her home in Warminster, about five miles from the Walmart. At the time of her arrest, officers discovered that DeCarla had an active warrant from Bucks County detectives.
Court records show that DeCarla faces other charges including perjury, tampering with a public record, and forgery.
The defendant is being held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility. As part of her bail conditions, she was ordered to cooperate with Bucks County Children and Youth Services and to have no contact with her baby. As of Tuesday, authorities said she was unable to post bail.
In the case involving Walmart, DeCarla is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 9.
