Governor steps up when baby left in car

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Gov. Susana Martinez made a stop at a Santa Fe Walgreens Wednesday and saw something that she thought was off.

It was a 1-year-old child all alone strapped into a car seat in an unlocked and running car with her parents no where to be found.

That is when the governor stepped in.

After seeing the toddler Martinez went into Walgreens and had a clerk get on the intercom to find the parents. Meanwhile her security detail called the police.

Soon after the child's dad came out and got a lecture from the governor.

She asked him what in the world was he thinking when he left his toddler alone in a running car.

The dad said his child was sleeping and he did not want to wake her up after a cranky day. He also said he was just running in for a second to buy baby wipes.

Martinez said she did what any person would have done and should do.

"As soon as you see a baby in a car by themselves, you have got to, even if the car is unlocked or locked, you have to go into action right away because you don't know how long that baby has been in there," she said.

Santa Fe police questioned the dad but did not press charges. They will, however, forward their report to the state Children, Youth and Families Department, which could take action.