Babysitter Left Toddler Alone in Car For One Hour, Police Say

A small child was left unattended in a vehicle Thursday night in Ridgewood and the caretaker is facing child neglect and drug possession charges, according to .

Jessica Kelly, a 31-year-old resident of Wyckoff, is alleged to have left a two-year-old girl she was babysitting alone in a car on E. Ridgewood Avenue near Cottage Pl., police said Friday morning.

Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward told Patch Kelly left the two-year-old in the car alone for approximately an hour. He said Kelly told officers the child was alone for "just a minute," though officers themselves were with the child for at least 25 minutes before locating Kelly.

Ward said the toddler was left unsecured, the windows were cracked for air and the doors were unlocked. Police responded to a call by a concerned passerby at 6 p.m.

While searching for the registered owner of the vehicle they discovered marijuana in the car, the police chief said. According to Ward, who was on scene, Kelly was in stores on E. Ridgewood Ave with the two-year-old's sister, age six. The six-year-old was taken into protective custody, he added.

The two-year-old was uninjured and was checked out by the Ridgewood Ambulance Squad, police said.

Kelly was charged with child neglect and possession of marijuana.

The Department of Youth and Family Services is now handling the investigation. Kelly was released and will face an appearance in .

[Editor's note: This article was last updated at 11:50 a.m.]