A Columbia woman is facing one count of misdemeanor child neglect after her four children were found in her car while she shopped at Walmart Monday.
Amber Fairburn, 25, of Columbia, was arrested by Columbia police shortly before noon, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Harrison.
The four children, ranging in age from 1 to 6, did not suffer any major injuries but were taken to Marion General Hospital to be checked, police said. Temperatures were near 90 degrees, and inside a car that gets much hotter.
Harrison said the windows were rolled up and the car was running but the AC was blowing hot air.
First responders from the Columbia Fire Department and AAA Ambulance Service responded to the scene and treated the children. AAA transported all four to the hospital. Fairburn was taken into custody and taken to the Marion County Regional Correctional Center and booked in.
“There were no major injuries,” Harrison said. “They wanted to make sure the children weren’t dehydrated.”
Officials from the Department of Human Services were also contacted and were present at the scene. Bond has not been set by a Justice Court judge as of early Monday afternoon.
