FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (TND) — Deputies in Florida didn't hesitate to shatter a window when they discovered a toddler was locked in a hot car for up to 10 minutes.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said they responded on Monday to a 911 call made by a women reporting her 1-year-old daughter had accidentally been locked inside a vehicle in the parking lot of Walmart in Palm Coast.
Deputy First Class Finn and Deputy Harrison were the first to arrive on the scene, according to officials, and found a man and woman standing outside the vehicle that was not running.
Officials reported the man told deputies he had placed the child in the vehicle, went around to the other side, and discovered the door was locked and the keys were inside.
In the video, the man and woman can be heard telling deputies the child had been locked in the vehicle for about eight to 10 minutes.
"Due to the heat, deputies observed the child to be sweating and appearing to be in distress," a report states.
The deputy then tells the woman he will have to smash the window despite her not wanting him to because he does not know how far out the fire department is.
"I have to. ‘Cause she’s been stuck in there. I don't know how far (the fire department is) out. She's been there for 10 minutes," the deputy tells the woman.
Shortly after, Deputy Harris is seen utilizing "Shatterballs" to break the rear passenger window which was the farthest from the child.
He then clears the reaming glass with a collapsible baton and unlocks the vehicle.
After being assessed by the fire department, it was determined the child was OK despite being exposed to extreme heat.
"Thanks to the quick response of our deputies, this child was safely rescued, and a tragic incident was avoided," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "Although this was an accident, I would like to take this time to remind parents of the dangers of leaving a child in a parked car at any time, especially if it is not running. Heatstroke can happen very quickly, even if it does not seem that hot outside. Remember, if it has a heartbeat, do not leave them in your car."
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