Nebraska police captain charged after toddler left in locked vehicle

A Lincoln Police Department captain, Mayde McGuire, has been placed on leave following an incident where her 2-year-old toddler was allegedly left locked inside a parked minivan at Pawnee Lake. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on a Sunday when the outdoor temperature was 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bystanders alerted authorities after spotting the distressed child. According to Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner, the child was reportedly trapped in the vehicle for at least 28 minutes before deputies arrived. While the child was out of the vehicle by the time police reached the scene, officials warned that vehicle interiors can reach lethal temperatures very quickly, even in pleasant weather.

McGuire and her partner, Mary Tobiassen, have both been charged with misdemeanor child abuse. Following a breathalyzer test, McGuire registered a blood alcohol content of .108, which exceeds the legal driving limit in Nebraska. McGuire has been cited and placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.