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Police: Mother asks for ticket instead of jail after leaving kids in hot car

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Tiffany Smith, 25, is out of jail on $15,000 bond, charged with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child.

Rock Hill police were called Sunday to the Galleria Mall where they found 15 people standing around a car in front of a JCPenney store. Three shoppers had called 911 after spotting three children alone in a car, crying. They were ages 8, 3 and 2.

According to eyewitnesses, they were crying, flushed and very sweaty. The windows were cracked, but the car was not running.

Police said Smith walked out of the store and told them she'd only been gone five to 10 minutes. However, surveillance video from JCPenney showed that Smith had been in the store for 27 minutes, said police spokesman Brad Redfearn.

"She was untruthful about the time frame that she was in there, and really there is no good time frame to leave a child in a car," he said.

According to the report, the officer tried to explain to Smith why she couldn't leave children alone in her car, and Smith said, "I understand that, but can't you just give me a ticket? Think about my kids' well-being."

The officer told her he was thinking about the well-being of her children.

Arrest warrants obtained by Channel 9 state that it was 77 degrees outside at the time of the incident. Police believe it was likely much warmer inside the car where the children were.

Other shoppers Channel 9 spoke to were outraged over what happened.

"You don't stick your kids in the car and leave, for any period of time," Ami Parker said.

"I can't see how anyone could forget their children in the car. They're precious," Sheila McCameron said.

Channel 9 went by Smith's home Tuesday, but no one came to the door.

Police said her boyfriend came to the mall and took possession of her children Sunday.

Rock Hill police also notified the Department of Social Services.

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