THORNTON, Colo. — A Thornton man was arrested after allegedly leaving his 7-year-old granddaughter locked in a hot car, forcing her to use a mallet to break a window and escape, the Thornton Police Department announced Wednesday.
Eddie Espinoza, 62, was arrested last week on child abuse charges in connection with the July 6 incident in the 800 block of E. 88th Avenue. Thornton police were called to the area on report of a child locked inside a vehicle while it was approximately 90 degrees outside.
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Investigators found a 62-year-old man had left his granddaughter alone in the vehicle while he went into a nearby store. After about 20 minutes, the child got overheated and used a mallet that was inside the car to break a passenger window. Bystanders helped the child out of the vehicle before first responders arrived, according to Thornton police.
After the window was broken, Thornton police said the temperature inside the vehicle read 121 degrees. Firefighters estimated it had exceeded 150 degrees while the child was inside, according to Thornton police.
The 7-year-old girl only had minor injuries from the window's broken glass and received medical treatment at the scene. Her grandfather was arrested on charges of child abuse.
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