Police: Infant left in hot car, Altoona woman faces charges

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — After allegedly leaving a 4-month-old in a vehicle while grocery shopping, a Blair County woman is facing felony charges.

Jade Diggs, 40, was charged after police were called to a residence on the 5000th block of Oak Avenue in Altoona. Police were informed that there was a 4-month-old infant that had been left inside a vehicle while the driver, Diggs, had gone grocery shopping, according to the criminal complaint.

The infant was transported to UMPC Altoona after showing signs of being extremely lethargic, heavy and rapid breathing as well as sweating. AMED had told police that the infant had an elevated temperature and a heart rate over 200 beats per minute.

While talking with Diggs, she allegedly told police “this is why I don’t like calling 911, because investigations then start.” She then told police that while she sometimes takes the infant into the store with her, she had left him in the car because he had fallen asleep, court documents show.

Diggs said she had left the infant in the car with the windows up while she was in the store for about an hour. When she arrived home, Diggs said that she had “not remembered” that the infant was in the car until about ten minutes after arriving, according to the complaint.

When Diggs had taken the infant out of the car, she said that he was limp and unresponsive. Police noted that at the time of the call, it was 90 degrees outside and Pa. had been placed on a heat advisory.

Police then spoke to the infant’s primary doctor, who said that exposure in the heat for prolonged periods of time can cause numerous types of heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat cramps. The doctor also told police that those illnesses include symptoms of drowsiness, fatigue and weakness.

When viewing the video surveillance from the grocery store, police noted that Diggs could be seen arriving at 2:43 p.m. and leaving at 4:03 p.m. It was also noted in the charges that there was a 40 minute period of time between Diggs leaving the store and returning home.

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Diggs is now facing a felony charge of aggravated assault of a victim less than 13, a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor charge of endangering another person.

She is currently in the Blair County Prison after being unable to post her $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 24.

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