The three boys were dripping sweat and in distress, police said.
A Georgia mother has been arrested for leaving a 2-year-old and twin 4-year-olds inside a locked hot car, police said.
Passersby called 911 after seeing the obviously frightened boys, who had no car seats, struggling inside the locked vehicle, according to Hiram police.
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Officers estimated the temperature inside the Toyota was about 101 degrees.
The car was left in a shopping mall parking lot, witnesses said.
“Upon arrival, Officer Stephen Johnston found three small male juveniles inside a silver Toyota car with the windows rolled up and the car not running. The children were in obvious distress and were sweating profusely,” the Hiram Police Department said in a statement.
Officers tried to break into the vehicle with police tools, but Johnson was able to tell one of the boys how to unlock the door, the statement said. The three children were rescued and given cold water to drink.
About 10 minutes later, Loleatha Stallworth, 40, emerged from a store, saying she had just gone inside for a few minutes to buy a gift, authorities said.
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Paramedics were called to check the boys’ health and all three were placed in the custody of their father, police said.
Stallworth was arrested Saturday on three charges of felony child cruelty and failure to provide child restraint devices, authorities said. She was released Sunday on $11,750 bond, according to MDJ.com.
It was not clear whether she has entered a plea.
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