Mom Leaves 3 Children In Car Outside McDonald's

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis mother was arrested outside a southwest-side McDonald's restaurant Monday afternoon after police said she left her three children inside a car in nearly 80 degree weather.

Witnesses called police after watching the children -- 10-months, 3-years and 5-year-old -- cry and climb around in and outside of the car for more than 30 minutes, said State Police Sgt. Anthony Emery.

When police arrived at the restaurant, Contessa M. Irvin, 25, of Indianapolis, came outside and told deputies that she had been inside eating.

Witnesses told police they went inside the restaurant and asked if anyone knew who the children's belonged to, but that no one answered.

Irvin was arrested and preliminarily charged with three counts of neglect, Emery said. She was also preliminarily charged in connection with two outstanding warrants out of Hendricks County -- operating a vehicle while never receiving a license and failure to appear in court.

Irvin was at the Marion County Adult Processing Center Monday night.