Woman arrested after leaving baby alone in truck | Crime

Tuesday evening Jonesboro police arrested 26-year-old Valencia Clark after officers say she left a three-month-old baby alone in an unlocked pickup truck.

Just before 7 p.m. officers were called to the Walmart store on Highland Avenue.  When they arrived, a woman reportedly told them she and her daughter had heard a baby crying from inside the truck.  According to the police report, the truck was unlocked and the windows were down.

Officers found Clark and the baby inside the store at the customer service desk.

Clark reportedly told police she had arrived at the store with her brother.  Clark told police she left him and the baby in the truck while she went into the store, according to the report.  She reportedly said her brother "was the one that left the child in the vehicle when he came into the store."

According to the report, when the officers police reviewed the store's surveillance video they saw Clark park her truck and get out.  The police reported seeing "no other adult…with her."  Officers said the video showed Clark return to the truck approximately 10 minutes later and get the baby.

Clark was arrested and charged with first degree child endangerment.

The child was turned over to the custody of her father.

Photo provided by Craighead County Jail.