Slidell police say an alert Walmart employee and Slidell Police officers helped save the life of a 16-day-old infant who was left inside of a car Thursday in a Walmart parking lot.Around 10 a.m. Thursday, Slidell Police received a call about a woman, who they say was visibly impaired with her infant child, in the parking lot of a local Walmart store. When officers arrived, they were unable to find the woman, who was later identified as 37-year-old Ashley Kennedy of Minden, Louisiana.Witnesses told officers that she left the area in a gray Honda Odyssey minivan. As officers were searching for the vehicle, about an hour later, an alert Walmart employee called Slidell Police and stated Kennedy was back at Walmart, but this time shopping inside of the store without her child, according to a news release issued by Slidell police. Police say they found the woman inside shopping while her 16-day-old child was inside the Honda minivan covered in a blanket. Slidell Police say Kennedy appaired to be intoxicated. Officers forced their way into the vehicle and said the inside of the car was extremely hot with the ‘air conditioner’ blowing hot air. Police say the lethargic infant was rushed to a nearby hospital, and is expected to survive and make a full recovery. Investigators say Kennedy was also involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier in the day.Kennedy was placed under arrest and booked into the Slidell City Jail with cruelty to juveniles, third-offense DWI with child endangerment, hit-and-run, and improper child restraint. Kennedy will be transferred to the St. Tammany Parish Jail.“If it was not for the alert Walmart employee and the quick actions of our officers, this incident would have resulted in the death of this young 2-week-old,” said Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal. “As terrible of a situation this was, it could have been a lot worse. So many things could have gone differently today, and we thank God for such a positive outcome.”The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) was contacted, and the child has been placed in DCFS custody, according to Slidell police.
Slidell police say an alert Walmart employee and Slidell Police officers helped save the life of a 16-day-old infant who was left inside of a car Thursday in a Walmart parking lot.
Around 10 a.m. Thursday, Slidell Police received a call about a woman, who they say was visibly impaired with her infant child, in the parking lot of a local Walmart store.
When officers arrived, they were unable to find the woman, who was later identified as 37-year-old Ashley Kennedy of Minden, Louisiana.
Witnesses told officers that she left the area in a gray Honda Odyssey minivan.
As officers were searching for the vehicle, about an hour later, an alert Walmart employee called Slidell Police and stated Kennedy was back at Walmart, but this time shopping inside of the store without her child, according to a news release issued by Slidell police.
Police say they found the woman inside shopping while her 16-day-old child was inside the Honda minivan covered in a blanket.
Slidell Police say Kennedy appaired to be intoxicated.
Officers forced their way into the vehicle and said the inside of the car was extremely hot with the ‘air conditioner’ blowing hot air.
Police say the lethargic infant was rushed to a nearby hospital, and is expected to survive and make a full recovery.
Investigators say Kennedy was also involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier in the day.
Kennedy was placed under arrest and booked into the Slidell City Jail with cruelty to juveniles, third-offense DWI with child endangerment, hit-and-run, and improper child restraint.
Kennedy will be transferred to the St. Tammany Parish Jail.
“If it was not for the alert Walmart employee and the quick actions of our officers, this incident would have resulted in the death of this young 2-week-old,” said Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal. “As terrible of a situation this was, it could have been a lot worse. So many things could have gone differently today, and we thank God for such a positive outcome.”
The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) was contacted, and the child has been placed in DCFS custody, according to Slidell police.
