Long Island mom charged after leaving son alone in LEGO store

GARDEN CITY (WABC) -- A mother from Long Island is facing charges after she allegedly left her 7-year-old son unattended in a store inside the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday, when police say 44-year-old Patricia Juarez left her son in the LEGO Store.

Authorities say she went shopping in other stores for nearly 90 minutes while the boy was unsupervised.

The store's manager became concerned and contacted mall security, who called 911.

Juarez, of Hempstead, was arrested when she returned to the store.

She is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and on an unrelated warrant for petit larceny.

The boy was released to a family member.