Delta police are recommending criminal charges to Crown counsel after an officer was forced to break a window to get two children out of a hot vehicle at Tsawwassen Mills mall on Canada Day.
DPD were called to the Mills’ mall parking lot just before 5 p.m. on July 1, after two small children were reportedly locked in a vehicle.
“When our officer arrived on scene he discovered the children trapped in the hot vehicle sweating profusely, crying, and with bright red faces,” said DPD public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf. “The youngest, age three, was strapped in a car seat in the full sun.”
Leykauf said onlookers had tried communicating with the children in order to get the older one, age five, to unlock the door. However, the five-year-old was unable to get the door open, and 9-1-1 was called at 4:55 p.m.
Police arrived on scene at 5:04 p.m., and communicated to the older child to stand at the back of the vehicle, while the driver’s side window was breached.
“Our officer then helped the children out of the vehicle and brought them into the police cruiser so they could be cooled off by air conditioning right away, and provided with water,” added Leykauf. “He was very concerned with their condition, particularly the youngest child who had irregular breathing.”
Paramedics were also called to the scene, and the children were brought to hospital to be assessed and treated. They have since been released and are reported to be doing well.
The children’s father arrived at the vehicle approximately 10 minutes after the children were rescued.
“Police spoke with the father at length about the dangers of leaving young children in a vehicle on a warm or hot day,” said Leykauf. “If not for the observant and caring people who were shopping and working at the mall, this might have ended differently.”
Besides recommending charges to Crown, police also advised the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
