Mom shops in Neiman Marcus with dog, leaves 2 yr old in car [View All]

[The Straight Story]

CPS to check shopper’s child in car case
By Mike Sakal, Tribune
December 14, 2006

State child welfare officials said Wednesday they will investigate an incident involving a Scottsdale mother who left her 2-year-old son sleeping in the back seat of an unlocked BMW in the Neiman Marcus parking garage at Scottsdale Fashion Square while she shopped with her dog.

Liz Barker, Arizona Child Protective Services spokeswoman, confirmed the office received a report of neglect involving the child and will conduct a safety-risk assessment to determine whether the boy has a safe home.

Gardenia Zakrzewski Johansson, 39, who has taught at several Montessori schools throughout the Valley in the last few years, was arrested by Scottsdale police on suspicion of child neglect shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday when she left the department store. Police received a call from mall security after two valets of Epic Valet told them Zakrzewski Johansson had asked them to watch her son and not to tell anybody, a police report says.

Zakrzewski Johansson returned to the garage about 30 minutes later, the police report says. She told police she was going to pick up a Christmas gift, but it wasn’t gift-wrapped or ready to take home, which is why the trip took so long.

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