A woman has been arrested after police say she left her 18-month-old child and a puppy inside a running car while she allegedly earned money as a prostitute in Takoma Park, Maryland.
On Tuesday, Takoma Park police went to the 1200 block of Myrtle Avenue after receiving a report that a baby was alone in a vehicle. Officers saw the vehicle parked with the toddler inside, along with an 8-week-old puppy. The child and dog were left inside the vehicle for about an hour, police said.
Danielle Parnell, 24, came outside and met with officers and "indicated she had been inside an apartment earning money as a prostitute," police said.
Parnell has been charged with child neglect, child abuse and prostitution. She also had an outstanding warrant in Ohio for violating probation, police said.
The child is in the custody of Child Protective Services, police said. The puppy was turned over to Animal Control and has already been adopted.
