Sugarcreek Borough Police filed a criminal complaint against Nicole Smith, 31 of Franklin, charging her with one count of Endangering Welfare of Children (Misd 1).
The charge comes following an investigation in an incident that occurred on September 4, 2020 in the parking lot of Rural King where employees of the Rural King were notified of a child left in a vehicle for an unknown amount of time and called police.
Investigation shows that Smith and an adult male entered the Rural King at 12:37 PM and did not exit the store until 2:20 PM, after officers arrived, leaving the child unattended in the parking lot for one hour and forty three minutes. Video evidence also shows that at no time did either adult go and check on the child.
While speaking with Smith and the other adult both state that they were only going into the store for a few minutes to pick up a few items, but lost track of time.
Criminal complaint has been filed with Magistrate Lowrey, no court date has been set as of this press release.
Officers were assisted at the scene by Venango County Children & Youth Services.