UPDATE: Lacey Man Charged With Child Abuse For Leaving Two Small Children In Hot Car: Cops

Berkeley police officers recently charged a Forked River man with child abuse after he left his two very young children in a hot car to inquire about a gym membership, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Berkeley Detective Joseph Santoro and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit Detective Stephanie Bayha arrested and charged Yordy R. Santanacastillo, 28, of Forked River, with two counts of fourth-degree child abuse on Sept. 19, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

The investigation began on Sept. 9, when the two detectives and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department CSI responded when witnesses reported Santanacastillo left the two children in the car at 4:40 p.m. unattended for 19 minutes, he said.

"Bystanders managed to access the car through cracked windows and opened the doors to circulate air," Della Fave said.

The car was parked in the Retro Fitness parking lot on Route 9 in Berkeley with the ignition off, while Santanacastillo went to inquire about a gym membership, Della Fave said.

"The outdoor air temperature at the time exceeded 90 degrees," he said. "A temperature as high as 97 degrees was recorded on the day of the incident."

The children were released to their mother's custody," Della Fave said.The case was reviewed by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento, who approved the above charges. The defendant was released on a summons pending his appearance in Superior Court.

Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office