Parents cited for child abuse after leaving children in cold car, police say

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two parents were cited for child abuse in Colorado Springs after two small children were found abandoned in a cold car outside a bar late Thursday night.

The father of the children was reportedly driving to the Copperhead Road Bar searching for the children’s mother when he left the 6- and 2-year-old in the car, according to our ABC affiliate station in Colorado Springs, KRDO-TV.

Police believe the children were left alone for less than half-an-hour before a Good Samaritan noticed the children and reported the incident to a security guard.

The children were not hurt, KRDO-TV said.

Police arrested both parents and cited them for misdemeanor child abuse before they were released.

The Department of Human Services was notified of the incident and the children will be temporarily moved to a different home pending further investigation, KRDO-TV reported.