Mother charged for leaving son in car

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) -- A Pawtucket woman is facing neglect charges after allegedly leaving her young child alone inside a cold vehicle.

Susan Lopes, 26, is accused of leaving her 4-year-old in the car in the middle of Williams Street.

According to a police report obtained by Eyewitness News, an officer was responding to an unrelated call Friday when he spotted a car parked directly in front of a no parking sign.

The officer was writing a citation for the illegally parked car when he noticed the child inside.

The police report states the boy was "hysterically crying for his mother. He was attired only in pajamas and boots. The boots were both on the wrong feet. The vehicle was not on and there was no jacket or blanket in the passenger compartment".

Police also found empty blunt wrappers and what appeared to be synthetic marijuana inside the car with the little boy.

Lopes was arrested and charged with cruelty to or neglect of a child.

Eyewitness News went to Lopes' home for comment, but no one answered the door.

The police report states that, during questioning, Lopes told police "I made a mistake".

She is currently being held at the ACI on a probation violation.

Her son is now in DCYF custody.