Wareham Police have summoned a Maine woman to court following an incident in which a child and dog were left unattended in a running vehicle with the air conditioner on for more than 30 minutes on Thursday, July 30.

Police responded to the Ocean State Job Lot parking lot at 3 p.m. following reports of the incident. The child and dog’s adult guardian was located in the store and brought out to the car, where she was confronted by angry bystanders.

The woman, Catherine Nesbit, 30, of Kennebunkport, Maine, is a friend of the child’s grandmother. The Department of Children and Families responded and will continue the investigation. 

Nesbit was summoned to court for one count of reckless endangerment of a child and for leaving an unattended motor vehicle running. 

The child was uninjured.

“I would like to thank the citizens who stepped up to assist the vulnerable child in this particular incident,” Chief John Walcek said.