Police charged Tra’Mya Latrena Sherrice Allen with child endangerment after discovering a 3-year-old alone in a running SUV outside a Kohl’s on Harrison Avenue. According to court records, the toddler remained in the locked vehicle for at least 25 minutes before Allen returned. The infant was reported unhurt, and Allen was set to appear in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Officers responded to the Harrison Avenue Kohl’s yesterday after a witness reported seeing a young child alone in an SUV. According to an affidavit seen by WKRC Local 12, the SUV was left running for approximately 25 minutes with the air conditioner turned on. The affidavit also states that Allen told authorities she walked into the store to look for clothes and thought she had only been gone for about 15 minutes. Police claim her decision posed a significant risk to the child’s safety.
Allen is charged with child endangerment, which the Ohio Revised Code describes as posing a “substantial risk” to a child’s health or safety. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the offense may be punished as a misdemeanor or upgraded to felony. Ohio Revised Code §2919.22 specifies when penalties rise, including for violations that cause substantial physical harm. Prosecutors will determine if the information in the affidavit warrants any additional filings.
According to NHTSA, the inside of a car can heat up by around 20°F in about 10 minutes, and children’s bodies warm three to five times quicker than adults, posing a life-threatening risk even when the outside temperature is not particularly high. According to government preventative materials, 31 children died from vehicular heatstroke in 2025, and caregivers are encouraged to utilize the “Stop. Look. Lock.” routine and contact 911 if they witness a child left alone in a vehicle; more tools may be found at TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.
WKRC Local 12 reported that no bond information was immediately available. Police and judicial officials did not provide any additional information. The Hamilton County municipal system will handle Allen’s arraignment and any subsequent filings.
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