Maine Woman Charged After Child Found Alone in Parking Lot

EASTON, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts have charged a Maine woman whose 17-month old child was found alone in a shopping cart outside a Target store.

Easton police said Monday the 27-year-old Acton, Maine, woman will be summoned to court in the future to face a charge of abandonment or endangerment of a child charge. The woman's name was not released to protect the child's identity.

Officers responded to the Easton store at about 1 p.m. Saturday for reports of an unattended toddler.

The boy was taken to the hospital, but appeared unharmed.

About an hour later, a man called to say the child had accidentally been left behind. The mother said she was with three other people and thought one of the others had put the child in his car seat.