Woman left sleeping child in running vehicle at Walmart, police say

What drew officers' attention to the vehicle was the fact it was parked in a fire land outside the store.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A woman left her sleeping child inside a running vehicle outside the local Walmart, authorities said.

Shardai T. Nichols allegedly left a sleeping child in the back seat of a car, police say. (SCCF) 

Police said they noticed the car because it was parked in a fire lane outside the main entrance to the store when they arrived around 5:30 p.m. Monday.

As one of the officers was writing a ticket, the cop saw a child asleep on the back seat of the vehicle, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, Shardai T. Nichols, 21, of Salem came out of the store on South Broadway and allegedly gave officers a false name. Authorities said there were four outstanding warrants against her.

Nichols was arrested and charged with child neglect and interfering with an officer, according to police.

The the child was turned over to a family member and the state Department of Children and Families was notified. Police did not say if the child in the car was a boy or girl or give the age of the child.

Man using dead cop's ID to bilk banks

Bail on the child neglect and police interference charges for Nichols was set at $15,000, police said.

Nichols was taken to the Salem County Correctional Facility, Mannington Township. She was released on Nov. 15, according to jail records.