Grandmother Allegedly Left Kids in Car to Go Black Friday Shopping at Walmart

Scott Township police say a grandmother left her two young grandchildren in the car to go Black Friday shopping in Walmart.

Bridget Bruce, 55, of Scott, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children after police said she went shopping at Walmart and left the grandchildren ages 5 and 7, in the car around 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.

Scott police Chief Jim Secreet said he and four other police officers were patrolling the parking lot when he saw the two “well dressed” children walking toward the store without an adult.

“It caught my eye right away,” Secreet said. “They were too young.”

The kids got the attention of a Walmart greeter and asked for help finding their grandmother. Secreet said he walked over and spoke to them before having Bruce hailed using the intercom.

Secreet said she was “evasive” while answering questions and said a relative was supposed to be watching the kids in the car.

The car alarm apparently starting going off, scaring the kids and prompting them to find their grandmother, Secreet said. They apparently had been waiting in the car for about 25 minutes when they decided to leave.

“The lines were so long­–they were to the back of the store–there was no way you’re getting in and out of there,” Secreet said, estimating the line to be 45 minutes to an hour long.

Secreet said the kids appeared to be well taken care of, and the 7-year-old boy seemed to be mature for his age. Still, he had concerns about the children being alone in a bustling parking lot on such a busy shopping night.

“Someone could’ve just scooped those kids right up,” he said.

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