Police: Mt. Sinai Man Arrested After Leaving Daughter in Car While He Shopped

A Mount Sinai man left his sleeping daughter in a locked car while he shopped at a T.J.Maxx store in Selden Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Juan Pablo Aguilar Varela, 32, faces an endangering the welfare of a child charge following the incident in the Selden Plaza shopping center on Route 25.

Sixth Precinct Sgt. William Robinson and officer Robert Strandvold responded to the shopping center after a 911 caller reported a child locked in a Mercedes Benz shortly before 2 p.m., police said. A member of the Selden Fire Department was also flagged down by the caller.

A 4-year-old girl was sleeping in the backseat of the vehicle for approximately 15 minutes, police said. The car was not running and the windows were open approximately half an inch, police said.

Other members of the Selden Fire Department responded and were able to unlock one of the doors, police said. The child was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for examination.

Robinson and Strandvold entered the T.J. Maxx store and located the child’s father, Aguilar Varela. He was arrested is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday. Suffolk County Child Protective Services was notified.

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