LI Mom Leaves Child Alone In Running Car At Target, Police Say

LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island mother has been arrested after allegedly leaving her 3-year-old child in a car with the engine running.

Julia Medvid, 29, of Copaigue, was arrested after the child was found in a car seat inside a running vehicle parked in a lot at a Target on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Medvid told police she was only gone for a few minutes.

Medvid faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child and is expected to be in court on Thursday.

Police say the child was released to a family friend.

Twenty-seven children have died in the U.S. this year after being left alone in hot cars, CBS2 reported.

It is unclear if the child was locked in the vehicle or if the air conditioning was on at the time.