A New Haven woman is facing charges after she allegedly left six young children alone in a car during last week's record-setting temperatures.
On June 21, around 1:30 p.m. Hamden Police got a report of several chldren left alone in a car in the parking lot at the Stop and Shop Plaza, 1245 Dixwell Ave., according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.
"Upon arrival, officers found six children, ages 2 through 12, inside," Smith said. "Hamden Fire Rescue was summoned to the scene to evaluate the children. According to a local weather service, the outside temperature was 98 degrees."
Several minutes later Porseha Benjamin returned from one of the stores and told Officer Michael Pantera that she had left the children unattended for a few minutes, Smith said.
Benjamin, 32, of 73 Waybossett St., Apt. B, New Haven, was charged with six counts of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle. She was released on a written promise to appear in Meriden Superior Court on July 6. The Department of Children and Families was contacted, Smith said.
Update:
"Porseha Benjamin was inside the local store for approximately 15 to 20 minutes," Smith said. "A Hamden Police Detective had to locate her and advise her to come back to the vehicle. She is the mother of the children. Officers observed the children, 3 of which were strapped in a car seat, sweating profusely. Hamden Fire Rescue was subsequently summoned."
