Crying Baby Rescued From Hot Vehicle In Berkeley; Grandma Charged

BERKELEY, NJ — A Toms River grandmother is facing charges after leaving an infant and three dogs unattended in a hot car Thursday afternoon in Berkeley Township, police said.

Doreen Orlich, 52, of Toms River, was charged with one count of cruelty or neglect of a child and three counts of animal cruelty, Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele said.

Police were called to a home on Speightstown Place in the Holiday City section at 12:45 p.m. by a parcel service driver who called 911 after seeing a baby crying in a vehicle that had the windows up and the engine off, she said.

Patrolman Michael Drybola responded and found the baby, and three dogs in the vehicle as well.
Drybola immediately removed the infant from the overheated vehicle and brought her to his vehicle to cool her body down, as she was drenched in sweat and crying. Drybola also removed the dogs from the vehicle. The temperature outside on Wednesday was in excess of 85 degrees.

Other officers arrived but could not immediately find anyone who might have been caring for the baby.

Just as first aid units arrived, Orlich emerged from the home and identified herself as the baby's grandmother. She told police she was at the Speightstown Lane address taking care of friend’s pets and left the infant in the vehicle while she was in the house for an undetermined amount of time.

The baby was taken to Community Medical Center as a precaution along with Orlich, and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency was called and immediately responded to the hospital. Berkeley Detective Michael O’Connor also responded to continue the investigation. Also assisting were Sgt. William Cullen and Patrolman Michael Sasso.

The child cruelty and animal cruelty counts lodged against Orlich were fourth-degree charges, and Orlich was released in accordance with NJ Bail Reform, DiMichele said.