Maryland

Long Island Parents Left Kids In Cold Cars, Went Shopping: Police

Long Island police say they made two separate arrests on Sunday of parents who left their children unattended in cars.

Marcela Monaco was arrested in Huntington for leaving her 4-year-old son alone in a car while she went shopping. Witnesses said the child was left for 20 minutes inside a car that was not running while the temperature was 37 degrees. 

Monaco was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Police say another couple was arrested in Patchogue after they allegedly left their three young children in a running, unlocked car for 20 minutes while they went shopping.

Witnesses said the three children -- a 6-month-old baby, a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old -- were left in the car for about an hour.

Donald Hayes and Sarah Hayes were arrested and charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Sarah Hayes said after an arraignment Monday that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. She said the children were only in the car for 15 minutes and that her husband was watching them from a distance.

--Sheldon Dutes contributed to this story

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