Marietta mom arrested for allegedly leaving toddler in car at Lowe's

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Marietta woman faces charges after Sandy Springs police said she left her 2-year-old girl locked in a hot car while she went shopping.
 
Police said Melissa Jackson, 39, turned herself into police Thursday after a reckless conduct warrant was issued for her arrest.
 
Witness Amanda Stanzione told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik she had just wrapped up a shopping trip with her husband at the Lowe's store on Roswell Road when her husband saw the little girl in the car.
 
"I looked in the car," she said. "There were no adults, the windows were up, the doors were locked and she was sweating."
 
Stanzione, herself a mother, ran into the store while her husband called 911.  She said Jackson was in the store and overheard the conversation, so she came running out to the car.
 
"She ran out to get her daughter and began telling me I don't need to tell her how to parent," Stanzione said.
 
Stanzione took pictures of the car and Jackson's license plate and sent them to police, then picked Jackson out of a photo lineup before the arrest.
 
"I'm encouraged by the Sandy Springs police and their quick followup," she said.  "I think they took the incident seriously and took the right course of action."
 
Police said they were thankful for Stanzione's actions.
 
"People are more alert and aware of these situations," said Sgt. Ron Momon.  "Fortunately these witnesses observed this child in the parking lot and took action to report the incident before a tragic situation happened."
 
Petchenik went to Jackson's East Cobb home but a man who answered the door said he had no comment.  A neighbor told Petchenik off camera that she was surprised by the arrest, and called Jackson a nice woman and mother.

WSBTV