Affidavit: Lincoln woman leaves child in car to play slot machines

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln woman was charged Tuesday after leaving a 4-year-old child in her car, the affidavit says.

Just before 4:30 a.m., officers were called to the Shoemaker’s Truck Stop near Southwest 40th Street and West O Street on reports of child neglect.

Staff members were told by a bus driver that there was an unattended young girl in a parked vehicle outside, and the mother was inside playing skill games.

When officers arrived, they found the child in the driver’s seat of a gray Ford Escape with the radio excessively loud, according to the affidavit.

The driver’s window was partially rolled down and the car was cold with no heat running. It was 24 degrees outside.

According to the affidavit, the child had an extremely foul odor, her clothes were wet and she had soiled herself. She had a coat on but her skin was cold to the touch.

Brittney Clark, 27, walked out of the store as officers were standing by her vehicle.

Clark said she was inside playing slot machines for 15 to 20 minutes and was checking on the child every five minutes, the affidavit said.

Two staff members of Shoemaker’s said Clark came into the store to play slots at 2 a.m. They only noticed Clark leave the store once between her arrival and the officer’s arrival.

While officers were interviewing Clark outside the store, Clark became “belligerent,” and officers arrested her.

Clark was taken to the ground and she resisted being handcuffed.

The affidavit said Clark bit an officer on the arm, kicked another officer in the groin and was kicking her legs at the officers.

Clark was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail for child abuse, third-degree assault on an officer and resisting arrest.

Her hearing is scheduled for Jan. 2nd at 10 a.m.