GRAND TRAVERSE CO. -- A local mother wants to know why Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch didn’t send a police officer to the scene after she accidentally locked her 3-month old infant in the car.
Saturday morning, Amy Middaugh started the car after a quick trip to Grand Traverse Crossings. That’s when her baby started to get hungry and fussy. Amy got out to grab the diaper bag and then realized the car locked behind her. The baby was still inside. Frantic, she called 911, but instead of a deputy, a wrecker was called to help.
911 Central Dispatch Director, Jamel Anderson says “Our supervisor explained to her that law enforcement doesn’t normally handle lockouts most law enforcement personnel don’t carry the slim jim tool.”
Still, the concerned mother tells 7&4 she would have liked to see the situation treated as an emergency.
“I would have liked to see a patrol care come and help me. At least help keep me warm, reassure me, and try to get into the van… some kind of assistance.” Says Amy Middaugh
After waiting several minutes, Amy called her husband to come to the mall with a spare set of keys and cancelled the call for a wrecker. Central Dispatch tells me the supervisor who took this call did what they were supposed to do. No disciplinary action will be taken.
Additional Note: The mall is in jurisdiction of the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office not Traverse City Police Department
