Mum arrested after leaving toddler in car during 40 degree heat

A two-year-old girl was left in a car park on a sweltering hot day, a US police department has announced.

Officers were called to the Target car park in Ontario, California after a passerby noticed movement inside the car, which had the engine off and windows slightly open. 

Authorities say the two-year-old was “sweating and in distress” when police arrived at the scene. 

Temperatures had reached almost 40 degrees that day, according to local weather reports.

The girl was removed and transported to the local hospital. She was then released to Child Protection Services after being evaluated and found to be in good health. 

The mother, who has been named as 31-year-old Samar Mansour Mari, was arrested when she returned to her car. 

Melissa Ramirez of the Ontario Police Department said: "In (the mother's) mindset, she was just going to run in and run back out of the store.

"She realized she made a poor decision when she saw officers on the scene."

Mari faces a charge of suspicion of cruelty to a child.