COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The chief of the Cobb County Police Department offered some details Wednesday morning after a 2-year-old child was found dead the evening before in what he called a "hot car incident."
Chief Stuart VanHoozer said he would ask "grace" of the community in this incident, noting that, "we don't know right now whether or not criminal charges are warranted, or whether or not outrage is warranted."
"But we do know that support is warranted," Chief VanHoozer stated.
The department's public information officer, Sgt. Eric Smith, added that there was "no evidence to suggest the child was left inside the car" and that they did not yet have a clear idea of how long the child had been in the car before being discovered.
There were no details provided on how the child originally came to be in the car, who may have been responsible for the child during the time the child was in the car or what else might explain what happened in the child's death.
The chief indicated further details on what exactly occurred would be released later Wednesday.
A call came around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, for an unresponsive child in the car, police said. Sgt. Smith said officers and Cobb Fire/EMS responded to Wanda Circle outside Marietta and that the toddler was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital where the child was pronounced deceased.
"My only role today really is to extend sympathies to the family and friends and neighbors, and all those who are affected by this tragedy," Chief VanHoozer said in a morning press conference. "If I was in the position of this father, mother, sibling, friend, I would want a lot of grace right now, and a lot of support, and that's what I would ask of our community."
The chief added that the department will "sort out the facts of this case" and "we will do what is right." He also called for people to "really, really be careful in this heat -- this is one example of some things that can go wrong."
Sgt. Smith did not know the temperature the car was at when the child was found, but noted it was in excess of 90 degrees outside on Tuesday at the time the call came in. He added the investigation is still active and that the department is asking anyone with additional information about the case to call the Cobb Police Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.
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