LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska police captain is facing a child abuse citation after her 2-year-old daughter was allegedly left alone inside a locked minivan while the woman and her partner were fishing at a nearby lake, authorities said.
Mayde McGuire, 54, a captain with the Lincoln Police Department, was reportedly off duty when the incident happened Sunday afternoon at Pawnee Lake.
According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, another couple was walking through the parking lot when they noticed a black minivan. Inside, they saw a young girl who appeared to be in distress.
The couple, identified by a local news outlet as Braydon Nichols and Izabella Glover, realized the toddler was alone and that the vehicle was locked. They then called 911 for help.
Couple Says Toddler Was Crying and Banging on Window
Glover told that the little girl appeared to have escaped from her car seat and moved toward the front of the minivan.
She reportedly crawled over into the front seat and began banging on the window. Glover said the child was clearly distressed and appeared to be looking for her parents.
“She wanted her parents. They didn’t know what was going on,” Glover said, describing the situation as more serious than a child simply wanting to leave a vehicle.
The couple remained concerned as they waited for authorities to arrive. Police said McGuire ultimately removed the child from the vehicle before deputies arrived at the scene.
Toddler Was Inside for at Least 28 Minutes
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said during a Monday press conference that investigators determined the toddler had been alone inside the minivan for at least 28 minutes before the couple discovered her.
The outdoor temperature was reportedly 78 degrees Fahrenheit at the time.
But Wagner emphasized that even when temperatures outside do not appear extreme, the interior of a parked vehicle can heat up rapidly.
He warned about “how quickly the interior of a vehicle can get extremely hot.”
Authorities said the child was fortunate not to suffer injuries. The toddler was reportedly uninjured after being removed from the minivan and was returned to her parents.
Police Captain’s Alcohol Test Draws Attention
The investigation took another turn when McGuire was given a preliminary breath test at the scene. According to Wagner, the test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.108.
Authorities have not indicated that the alcohol result alone determined the child abuse citation, but it is part of the circumstances being examined during the investigation. McGuire’s status with the Lincoln Police Department has also been affected by the case.
Police said she was placed on leave while the investigation continues.
Both Women Cited for Misdemeanor Child Abuse
McGuire and her partner, Mary Tobiassen, 49, were both cited for misdemeanor child abuse. Neither woman was arrested in connection with the incident.
The case remains under investigation, and court dates for McGuire and Tobiassen were not immediately available.
Authorities have not reported any injuries to the toddler, but officials continue to examine the circumstances surrounding how long she was left alone and what happened before the couple discovered her.
The incident has also drawn attention because McGuire works in law enforcement herself. As a police captain, she is normally responsible for upholding the law, but she now faces a criminal citation stemming from an incident involving her own child.
For the couple who discovered the toddler, the situation was one they could not ignore. Their decision to stop, recognize the child was in distress and call 911 brought emergency attention to the scene before the situation could potentially become more dangerous.
The investigation will now determine what further consequences, if any, McGuire and Tobiassen could face.
What do you think about the couple’s decision to immediately call 911 after finding the toddler? Share your thoughts in the comments.