ARLINGTON, Va. — A mother is facing a charge after her vehicle was towed from a no-parking zone in Pentagon City with two kids still inside.
At 11:10 a.m. on Tuesday, officers with the Arlington County Police Department were dispatched to the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street for a report of a stolen car with two children inside. While officers were responding to the call, it was determined the car had been towed for being parked in a no-parking zone.
The Emergency Communications Center then got in touch with the tow company regarding the incident.
The preliminary investigation shows the tow operator was unaware the children were inside. After being notified, the driver pulled over to check on them.
"Our investigation has not revealed that he knew the children were inside at the time of the tow.," Ashley Savage of Arlington Co. Police told WUSA9.
Responding officers checked in on the children and determined that they were in good health.
Police charged the driver of the car, 26-year-old Chaukina Thomas of Suitland, with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was released on a summons.
"It's hard for us to know exactly what could happen with children left inside the vehicle," Savage said. "Could they gain access to the running vehicle? Could something happen to them? Could they have a medical emergency? There are many things that could occur inside the vehicle and it's safest to take the kids with you."
The owner of the towing company involved, Advanced Towing, claims the pictures his driver took before towing the car do not show the kids inside, but declined to send the photos to WUSA9.
"We towed a car that had kids covered up and asleep in car seats," John O'Neill said. "We find cars like that all the time and call the police."
O'Neill added that there was a garage with free 30-minute parking nearby, but the car was towed from a fire lane.
"She didn’t want to be inconvenienced by taking them out of the car while she went in to get food at the food court," O'Neill added.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the tow truck driver was facing charges, instead of the mother of the children inside the car.
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