Woman Arrested For Locking Children in Hot Car

HIRAM, GA — A Powder Springs woman is under arrest after locking her three children in a car where temperatures were well over 100 degrees, according to police.

On Saturday, Hiram Police officers were called to Five Below, a retail store at 4094 Jimmy Lee Smith Pkwy.

Upon arrival, an officer found three young boys inside a silver Toyota with the windows rolled up and the car not running.

The boys "were in obvious distress and were sweating profusely," according to police.

Officers began trying to get into the car using a lockout kit. While doing so, an officer was able to talk one of the boys into unlocking the door and was able to get all three children out and give them bottles of water to cool down.

Outside temperatures at the time were roughly 88 degrees, and a measurement of the car's interior showed the temperature at 101.3 degrees, according to a police news release.

Police say about 10 more minutes passed before the mother, Loleatha Stallworth, 39, exited the store. She told officers she was only inside for a few minutes buying a gift.

EMS was called to check on the health of the children, who were ages 4 (twins) and 2.

They were eventually released into the custody of their father.

Stallworth was charged with three counts of second-degree cruelty to children and three counts of child-restraint violations.