St. Pete Woman Accused Of Neglect After Leaving Toddlers In Car

CLEARWATER, FL — A St. Petersburg woman has been accused of child neglect after Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies say she left two toddlers in her car while she went into Costco to buy milk.

Deputies were called to the Costco at 2655 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater around 12:30 p.m. Saturday after someone noticed a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old alone in a car in the parking lot.

Deputies said the children were secured in their car seats and were crying. All the doors of the car were locked and the temperature outside was 75 degrees. The children were left alone about 20 minutes.

A deputy broke the driver's side window to reach the children. According to the sheriff's office, the children seemed to be in distress, had red checks and were warm to the touch.

Deputies said Patricia Yager, 58, of Dartmouth Avenue, St. Petersburg, told them that both children were asleep when she pulled into Costco. She said she thought they would be OK alone for a few minutes while she ran inside for milk. She said she didn't realize how hot it was when she left them.

Her bond was set at $5,000. She bailed out of jail about six hours later.