CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- A grandmother has been charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child and one count of animal without proper care.
Police were called to Walmart in West Ashley on Wednesday evening on a report that two children and a dog were left in a hot car.
Geneva Johnson, 81, has been arrested and charged.
Charles Francis, spokesman with the Charleston Police Department, said the call came in just before 6:30 p.m. Francis said witnesses reported the kids and dog were left in the car for at least 30 minutes.
Witnesses reportedly notified Walmart employees. Francis said the store employees then coaxed the kids to unlock the car and come into the store.
Francis said the kids, an 8-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy were out of the car before officers arrived.
Johnson reportedly told officers she left the kids in the car to go shop. She told police they were only in the car for a few minutes while she "ran inside."
Francis said officers later confirmed the kids and dog were actually in the car for nearly an hour.
The children were taken to a local hospital for examination. Francis said that afterwards they were placed in the care of a family friend.
The dog is in the custody of another family friend. The incident is still under investigation.
(This story courtesy WCIV.)
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