UPDATE @ 10:23 a.m. (Aug 2)
News Center 7’s John Bedell talked with the woman who possibly saved a young child’s life by calling police when she saw an 18-month-old in a hot car by himself. Karen Spence said she was walking into the store when she and her boyfriend noticed the child.
They immediately called the police and opened up the car doors to try and help the child. Spence stated she is a grandmother and a great grandmother and was very concerned for the child, which led to her fast response. According to police the child is currently in good condition and without injury.
The baby’s father Christopher Holub is still in custody and awaiting possible charges.
UPDATE @ 12:55 a.m. (Aug. 2): Christopher Holub, 26, remains in jail pending the formal filing of a misdemeanor child endangering charge accusing him of leaving his 18-month-old child in a car in the parking lot of the Kroger on Needmore Road in Harrison Twp.
Bail is listed at $2,500, according to Montgomery County Jail online records, and he could be in court for his initial appearance as soon as today. If convicted, Holub could be fined up to $1,000 and be sent to jail for six months.
Sgt. Troy Bodine, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, said the boy was awake when deputies arrived. They were dispatched to the store just after 5 p.m.
According to the investigation, a customer made a store manager aware that a child was in the car, in a car seat, Bodine said.
SEE ALSO: HOT CAR WARNING: How fast child, pet can die
SEE ALSO: Couple working on app to stop hot car child deaths
Karen, who identified herself as the customer, told this news organization her boyfriend saw the baby in the car and she opened the door next to the child when she saw that none of the windows was left partially down. She asked that her last name not be used for this report.
She called 911 and was told by a dispatcher to check the baby’s temperature by touching his head.
Bodine said deputies checked the temperature outside and found it was 78 degrees.
The manager made a broadcast in the store, complete with a description of the car, for the owner to come forward. No one responded, Sgt. Bodine said.
SEE ALSO: No charges against area mom who left child in hot car
Holub returned to the car about 20 minutes later and told deputies he had been in an argument with his mother and forgot the child was in the car, the sergeant said.
Firefighter/medics took the child to Dayton Children’s Hospital because he had an elevated body temperature. His condition was not known, Sgt. Bodine said.
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