The Messenger, November 14, 2012
A Hornbeak woman was issued a citation charging her with child neglect following an alleged incident Tuesday afternoon at Walmart Supercenter in Union City.
Kristen D. Hooten, 27, of 219 Poplar St., Hornbeak, was issued a midemeanor citation for child neglect at 4:38 p.m. Tuesday and was advised to contact juvenile court, according to a Union City Police Department report.
Police had responded shortly after 4 p.m. to a report of a missing 1-year-old child at Walmart Supercenter on West Reelfoot Avenue. An officer reported he arrived on the scene to discover an employee had found the child walking in the store parking lot.
Ms. Hooten told police she ran into the store to get medicine and left her four children unattended inside her Dodge Caravan. The 1-year-old child allegedly opened the door to the van and ran off, according to the report, which indicated Ms. Hooten apparently returned to the van and noticed her daughter missing.
A witness told police she stayed with the children at the van while Ms. Hooten looked for the missing child, who was eventually found by Walmart employees.
Police reported Ms. Hooten’s children ranged in age from eight months to nine years. The reporting officer said the children were not dressed for the weather, noting that none of them had on coats, and said it appeared the children had not bathed in days.