A woman in Tampa has been arrested after reportedly leaving her baby in the car while she went inside of the Hillsborough County Courthouse to pay a fine.
23-year-old Brandi Guggino, was arrested Friday on a child neglect charge.
An off-duty Plant City police officer was flagged down by concerned citizens who noticed an infant left in an unattended vehicle last Friday. The Officer observed the infant sitting inside of the vehicle that was turned off and says the infant was showing signs of distress. The baby was red, sweating and rubbing her eyes.
The police officer got into the vehicle and removed the baby from the car seat. The infant was then placed in the officer’s air-conditioned vehicle. Tampa Fire then arrived on the scene.
The baby eventually cooled off and the mother, Guggino, returned to the vehicle at 12:28 p.m. and told officers she didn’t take the baby with her because she was asleep.
Guggino went inside of the Hillsborough County Courthouse to pay a fine but says that she didn’t expect to take so long inside.
Tampa Fire Rescue transported the baby to Tampa General Hospital.
The temperature inside of the vehicle was reportedly 93 degrees and the temperature of the car seat was 123 degrees.
Officials say the baby did not appear to suffer any long term injury.