Don't break that window, I don't care if my child is in there!

[cssmall]

I nominate this woman for Bush's mother of the year award, it's obvious that they share so much in fucking common.

Link:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-baby3jul26,0,6414488.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines

[Oreo]

1. Evil bitch

STAMFORD -- A Stamford woman was arrested yesterday after she accidentally locked her 23-month-old son in her steaming hot Audi, then refused to let emergency workers break the window to free him.

Susan Guita Silverstein, 42, of 124 Fieldstone Road, was charged with reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.

Her son, who police said was "nonresponsive" when he was removed, spent more than 20 minutes in the car before the window was smashed open.

[Pirate Smile]

2. OMG. That is unbelievable!

:wow:

[dcfirefighter]

3. One try then the window goes

In DC, the fire dept. responds to unlock cars that have 1) a child locked inside, or 2) are running. In better weather, we'll try extensively to jimmy the door, in weather like this, we try for maybe a minute, then we break the window, regardless of owner's opinion. Yesterday we had 2 kids out w/in a minute of starting.

[soup]

7. thank you. n/t

[Gemini Cat]

39. They do that in Arlington County as well.

I saw that prior to the 'big snow' of '93.

[soup]

4. This is insane-

>>Silverstein continued telling firefighters she did not want them to break the window, according to police reports. She then told them to stop and that she would go home to get a spare set of keys, police said.<<

'Mother' of the year.

[Matariki]

29. yeah but why did the firefighters wait?

aren't they just as responsible here? she could have been distraught and confused, possibly dumb, but not necessarily a bad mother.

[Cronus Protagonist]

37. These guys here didn't wait for anything - no kid involved (pic)

http://bushspeaks.com/home.asp?did=175


http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[ComerPerro]

40. Love that picture

[LisaL]

69. The idiot should have known better than to park in

front if the fire hydrant. But then what can one expect from a Bush voter?

[oldcoot]

51. No, the firefighters are not as responsible

Yes, they should have ignored her and broke the windows when they arrived.

However, Silverstein is a bad mother. She was the one who called the firefighters to begin with and refused to break the window when they recommended it. She continued to try to prevent them from breaking the windows by even suggesting that she go home and get another set of keys. If she was distraught, she probably would not have even been thinking clearly enough to make such a suggestion. It is also worth noting that she does not, according to the article, ask what will happen to her child if she does not get him out of the car. Assuming this article is accurate, its clear that the child was not top on the mother's list of priorities. I hope that she receives a fair trial and receives that maximum sentence for child endangerment.

[LisaL]

71. What she needs is to have that child removed from her care.

She almost killed him.

[question everything]

91. How easy it is to break a window?

Aren't car windows supposed to be shutter resistant, or something? You cannot break one with your fist, or your purse, can you?

(not trying to defend her, clearly firefighters with axes can do the job, just wonder about the advice they first gave her)

[LisaL]

94. She didn't want to break it on her own-o'key, fine.

But she also refused to allow firefighters to break the window.
How would you excuse that?

[question everything]

100. No disagreement here

but I was responding to a post that said she should have broken the window and others, below, say the same thing so I wonder how easy it is for a regular person with no access to a tire iron or to an ax to do this.

[gkhouston]

103. I'm pretty sure that "shatter resistant" doesn't mean they

won't break, it just means they'll break into tidy little squares instead of jagged pieces (i.e., what happens when you drop a drinking glass). In her place, I would have run into the store and asked for a hammer or some such. Failing that, I would have tried anything, even punching. If you're desperate, it's amazing what you can do.

[oldcoot]

106. She could have asked for help breaking the window

Apparently, it is not too difficult to break a car window. A couple of years ago, I woke up and found out that someone in my neighborhood had broken one of the windows in my fairly new car. Although I have my suspicions, I do not know how this person did it.

I do not think that you could break a window with your fist or purse. However, you might be able to use a large rock or a crowbar to break a car window. In this case, Silverstein should have asked another driver to borrow a crowbar if possible. She could have also gotten help from the store management.

Had she tried to follow the dispatcher's instructions (even if they were bad instructions) with no success, I would have been more sympathetic to this woman. My main problem with this woman is that she refused to let anyone break her car window, which makes me wonder about her priorities.

[connecticut yankee]

47. Another newspaper report

said she accidentally locked the car door and was afraid the breaking glass would blind the child. Sounds a little far fetched to me.

This was in the Norwalk Hour, but I don't have a link.

[LisaL]

53. Bogus. The child was in a back sit.

Even a complete idiot would understand that breaking front window won't injure someone in a back sit.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Priorities, people. Everyone knows it's harder to replace a car window

than a baby!

[mikeytherat]

6. Jeez, I broke someone's car window once to get a DOG out...

I wouldn't have hesitated a second if it had been a child. It was a scorching day, and I I saw the dog slumped and drooling -- car was locked tight and no one could locate the owner, so I went and got a tire iron from my car, got the dog, and called animal control and the police.

Waited, talked to cops and animal EMS; never did see the owner.

mikey_the_rat

PS
Found out later the dog came through just fine

[H5N1]

16. Good for you!

[Lorien]

20. Good for you!

:applause:

it is illegal in Florida for anyone to leave a child or pet in a car for ANY amount of time when the temperature is over 55 degrees.

[ernstbass]

27. You are a good person!!

[classof56]

34. Good for you! Glad the dog was okay and hope it now has a new owner!

Just wish the baby in this story could get a new mother! Sorry... it's very hard to wrap my grandmotherly mind around how a parent could be so obviously uncaring.

Tired Old Cynic

[Greyhound]

50. Go Mikey!

This one's for you. :beer:

[ElectroPrincess]

105. Bless you Mikey!

Hope to see you and other K-9 lovers after we cross the Rainbow Bridge. :-)

http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm

[manic expression]

8. I wonder...is she "pro-life"?

:puke:

[jojo54]

11. Good point manic!!!! n/t

[fishwax]

80. That's what I wondered too

:puke:

[jojo54]

9. According to this article,

the temp would have been 112 degrees (correct me if I'm wrong) in the car by the time the mother got back with the keys. The time period would have been within the critical minutes a child can survive, also according the the article.

She ought to be flogged for putting the value of her damn car over her child. I hope their local child services dept. checks into this abuse.

[Pool Hall Ace]

10. What a twit.

She went home to get the spare keys instead of breaking the precious car window in order to free her child.

I'm glad they cuffed the beyotch.
:grr:

[jedicord]

12. We broke our car window 'cause the keys were locked inside.

We were out in the country, no cell phone, so we had no choice.

I remember seeing some show where the lady locked her baby in her car. She called the cops to get them to help her. The baby was crying.

I kept screaming at the TV "freakin' break the window lady!"

Apparently the film crew didn't snap to that either. Or, it would have made for better TV if the baby had died, right? :scared:

[fishnfla]

13. Snowflake baby defrosting on board

Stupid lady

[senseandsensibility]

14. I don't know much about breaking windows

since I've never been in a situation like this, knock on wood, but could she have been afraid the glass would cut the child? I mean, what was her reason? Was she just worried about her precious car? If so, I'm shocked.

[mikeytherat]

17. Her car, an AUDI A4, is a four-door sedan.

Odds are pretty darn good her infant child was not directly in front of all main windows and the front and rear windscreens.

Seems it was more about the car.

mikey_the_rat

[gkhouston]

18. all they'd have to do is break a window on the opposite side of the

car in the front seat. Minimal glass would get to the child and hell, I'd be willing to risk getting some glass on my daughter to get her out. I probably wouldn't have waited for cops; I'd have been looking for something to break the window myself, but I'm in Houston and cars heat up frighteningly fast down here. Sheesh, lady, it's just a window.

[RedCloud]

44. I think you never would have left the baby there in the 1st place.

that's the problem. The kid was too much trouble for her. If she can't afford to have an audi window broken so that her son's life could be saved, then it is adoption time.

[Tyler Durden]

19. Tempered Auto Glass:

You can spread a pound or two of shattered safety glass on a wooden chair, drop trou, and sit down on it without drawing blood from your ass.

That's why it's called "Safety Glass."

Make no mistake: mumsy just didn't want the $300+ installation for the new side window in an Audi.

Wish I'd been the fireman: I'd have taken out the windshield first. That's worth close to a GRAND in an Audi.

[mikeytherat]

21. Naw, if I'd been responding EMS, I'd have taken out the BACK windscreen

The one with the embedded defrost and antenna. The one that's $200 MORE than the front windscreen. Then I probably would have taken out the front windscreen, too. Ya know, just to be sure we could get the child out.

mikey_the_rat

[Tyler Durden]

23. "CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!"

I LOVE the way you think.

Don't forget to put a NICE BIG GOUGE in the hood. or trunk. or both.

And slide your coat buckles HARD down the quarter panel.

[mikeytherat]

24. Oops, sorry, ma'am. Our pumper truck accidently bumped your AUDI

when we were rescuing your child. Then, it bumped your car again. And again. Weird, huh?

mikey_the_rat

[uncle ray]

26. i think nothing less than the "jaws of life" is appropiate.

:evilgrin:

[Gruenemann]

42. That would be the window

with the W04 sticker,

[RedCloud]

45. Wind shield glass costs about three cents to manufacture.

Amazing what mark ups are out there. I used to work for a major glass manufacturer.

[kath]

102. Egg-zackly what I was going to say - broken auto glass doesn't have sharp

edges and wouldn't have hurt the child even if they'd broken the window right next to him/her.

[KansDem]

70. Her "reasoning" is bullshit...

Modern safety glass is manufactured to break into chunks, not the sharp shards that used to result in older cars (my car is 40 years old and it has safety glass).

Besides, the firefighters could break the glass causing it to crack but not shatter, then gently push the sections out, resulting in few, if any, stray pieces.

She just wanted to make sure her car didn't get damaged while she was inconvenience by her child.

[madaboutharry]

This is rather hard to believe.

I can't imagine anyone reacting to this situation in this manner. The part of the story of her actually leaving the scene to go home and get extra keys floors me.

[Binka]

15. My Hands Are Shaking I'm So Fucking Furious

I would have ripped the car doors off with my fucking teeth if one of my children was locked inside a hot car. This child is in serious danger with this freak for a Mother.

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. Why was a 23 month old left in the car to begin with?

She couldn't take the child with her into the store? I take my Yorkie in with me if I am allowed, if I am going somewhere that I can't take her into, I leave her at home. I certainly would never leave a child alone in a car, no matter the temp. And how does one lock their keys in their car anyway. Most cars have a warning bell that alerts that very thing. This person sounds like an airhead and apparently cares more about her car then her child.

[KarenInMA]

32. I think the kid being locked in was an accident.

[proud patriot]

30. I cannot understand what kind of woman would care more for a window

:grr:

[ptolle]

79. teeth

Seeing that picture I'd let you use my teeth.What a sweetie.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Audis must be way more valuable than children. Culture of life, don't

you know. Mother is probably a bushbot who thinks money and status is everything. She's also pretty late in life to have a 23 month old!

[booksenkatz]

38. I don't think her age has anything to do with her crime

I had a baby just a few months before I turned 39 -- this woman was about 40 when she had hers. And I'd never put the value of replacing a car window above the value of my son's life. So what's your point about her being an older mom?
:shrug:

[LisaL]

72. In fact, she should have known better than someone younger.

After all, she somehow made it to 40, despite being an apparent idiot.

[sinkingfeeling]

101. Just my impression....she was probably once a career woman,

maybe in charge of a large corporation and delayed having her child until later in life. But a 42 yr. old woman who would lock her child in a car and then refuse to break a window, is either a self-centered yuppie or lacking in parenting skills. I might expect a 16 yr. old to not know the dangers of hot cars, but someone 42?

[Connie_Corleone]

25. She should've had OnStar. n/t

[elare]

68. That was exactly my thought when I read this. n/t

[RobinA]

31. I Dunno

Maybe there's something more at work here. Kinda like women who don't scream when they are being assaulted because they don't want to make a scene. I had a friend once whose 18-month-old locked her out of the house when she went to retrieve something from the back porch. She was frantic trying to get him to unlock the door, which of course he couldn't do. Ran next door to the gas station to call the cops, ran back to try to keep him in her sights 'til the cops came. I'm like, why didn't you just break a window? It never occurred to her, apparently because you're not supposed to break windows. People who aren't normally destructive have this taboo thing about damaging things. It's senseless, really, but an interesting phenomenon.

[KarenInMA]

33. That's because no one offered "break the window"

to a frightened person. This woman REFUSED to have her window broken.

It's like going to the ER with a bone sticking out of your leg, and not letting the Dr cut your pants off.

[ibegurpard]

88. I think you're right

Breaking a window is kind of extreme (granted it would be warranted in a situation like this) and a lot of people might not realize that IT'S OKAY sometimes.

[damntexdem]

35. And how long did the firefighters follow her directions?

They should have broken the window the moment they arrived. Even had the lock pick worked, it would have delayed saving the child. They delayed even longer. In a case like this, no car owner, and no parent, has a right to stop efforts to save a child; and emergency personnel should act on that basis.

[ComerPerro]

41. That could be why they sent her to get her keys

So she would leave them alone so they could do their job.

[BiggJawn]

36. "Oh, my BEEMER! My POOR Beemer!"

"Dude, never mind your car, you lost your arm in that wreck!"

"Oh, my Rolex! Where's my ROLEX!!!"

Fucking Yuppies....

BTW, wanna see the FIRST vehicle to carry the model designation "A-4"?

[HughBeaumont]

43. Put her in a cell and remove her parental rights.

This was attempted infanticide as far as I'm concerned. It amazes me how seriously people underestimate how hot sealed-up cars can get. Not to mention YOU DON'T LEAVE A KID IN A LOCKED CAR ALONE to begin with!!

[dogday]

46. Make her sit in a hot steaming car for 20 minutes

or however long it was. Let her feel what her child felt...

[LibertyLover]

48. Audi Mom

I simply could not believe this woman. If my daughter were in there I would have broken the damn window myself. I have left my daughter in her car seat while I went into a store once in her entire life (admittedly she's only 3) and that was when it was raining cats and dogs, about 50 degrees and had she awakened, would have seen me right away. All in all the entire stop took 3 minutes (literally a milk run to 7-11) and I still felt guilty.

[Minstrel Boy]

49. We know, because we've read the story,

how quickly and how high temperatures rise in a locked vehicle. Clearly the mother didn't. She wasn't aware her child was in imminent peril. And neither did the firefighters, until they learned how long the boy had been in the car.

Very poor judgement on the part of the mother, but I wouldn't put the words of the subject line in her mouth.

[LisaL]

55. Firefighters knew it, that's why they wanted to break

the window, but the mother refused. Frankly, everybody knows that a child can not be left locked in a car, because the temperature can get very hot. And if somebody doesn't know that by now, they are too stupid to be raising children.

[Minstrel Boy]

59. But the firefighters did not object to her refusal

until they were better informed. Everyone should have known better.

[LisaL]

63. Everyone should have known better?

This woman locks her child in a car, refuses to break the window herself, refuses to let firefighter to break the window, and you are blaming firefighters for this?

[Minstrel Boy]

75. Yes.

If the firefighters believed the child to be in imminent peril, they would have not given a moment's thought to either the mother or the window.

They wasted time, and they were going to waste more waiting for her to return with keys, until they were told the child had been locked in the car for 15 minutes.

So yes, everyone should have known better.

[LisaL]

77. They broke the window, and save this child's life.

And if it was up to this so-called "mother", the child would be dead.
She shouldn't be raising any children.

[Minstrel Boy]

82. Would you take her child from her?

We know nothing more about this family than this story. On the basis of what you've read, would make that judgement?

[LisaL]

85. She almost killed that child.

Yes, he should be removed from her for his own safety.
Based on the information given, this woman doesn't posses any common sense and shouldn't be raising anyone.

[Gormy Cuss]

86. Thankfully the fire captain was thinking clearly on this.

I can think of several reasons why the mother may have reacted the way she did -- none of them rational, so again thank you Fire Captain Bretthauer for taking charge.

[LisaL]

96. I can think of only one -she didn't want to damage that car.

[Buns_of_Fire]

81. A child can't handle excessive heat as well as an adult can

Their internal temperature rises VERY quickly under such conditions -- much more so than an adult (I think it has to do with adults having more skin area to dissipate the heat). This is one of the reasons I carry a glass punch in my car (along with the reason that it's to crack a window on my own car should I ever drive off the road into a canal -- which wouldn't do me a lot of good, since I can't swim).

Either way, I nominate this woman for the "Ditz of the Year" award.

[oldcoot]

60. Common sense

How many of us would choose to willingly sit in a hot car for 20 minutes without turning on the air conditioning or rolling down a window? What are the odds that this woman drove around without turning on her air conditioning? At the very least, she should have been concerned about the comfort of her child.

It is worth noting that many states have laws against leaving children and pets in locked cars. Local television channels often run PSAs and news stories about not leaving children in locked cars. Even in cooler states like Wyoming, parents are advised not to leave their kids in cars. Considering the effort to educate the public about the dangers of hot cars, I really am surprised that the firefighters did not immediately break the window. They obviously need better training.

[Minstrel Boy]

61. People are stupid. Firefighters shouldn't be.

Not about something like this.

[LisaL]

64. Do you think firefighters are not people or something?

People are stupid, firefighters aren't-which would mean firefighters aren't people.
:sarcasm:

[seabeyond]

52. they didnt have to listen to her. they didnt have to arrest her

they should have broken the window. it is one thing the mother being stupid. it is another for anyone to have listened to her. if they arrest the mother for saying, dont break the window. arrest all the people that listened to her

[LisaL]

57. They broke the window, or didn't you read the article?

If they didn't, the kid could have ended up dead by the time this idiot mother got back. She sounds like someone that should have her parental rights terminated.

[seabeyond]

62. the woman didnt know and was uninformed, and you want to

take her kids away. how easy it is for you. she said dont break window. they didnt. after thinking they broke the window. then they arrested her. yes i did read the articles

she says dont beak window. rescue says dont be stupid, and break the window.

she was not the only one being stupid. these people listened to her

didnt you read the article.

[LisaL]

66. She wasn't the only one being stupid? She is the one

raising that child. If she is that dumb, she shouldn't be raising anyone.
Or the kid won't make it to 18.

[regularguy]

54. Not that it would excuse it, but my first thought was that

maybe the woman is scared shitless of her husband and didn't want to come home with a broken car window and get the shit kicked out of her. Crazy, I know, but not that far fetched if you're familiar with this sort of scenerio. Just a (depressing) thought...

[LisaL]

56. Or she is just too cheap. I am sure it costs a lot to replace a window.

Must be a lot easier to get knocked up with a new baby.

[regularguy]

58. Well sure, who knows?

[KarenInMA]

65. Oh god. I never thought about that.

But it makes sense.

[LisaL]

67. Does it? Her husband would be upset if she breaks the window,

but wouldn't care if she kills that boy?

[Gormy Cuss]

90. Yes, it makes sense if he's a self-absorbed abusive type.

The mother may not have been registering just how dangerous it was for the child. Combine that with a fear of retribution from an abuser it makes absolute sense.
As for the husband being upset more over the window than the kid, unfortunately there are people who would be more upset about the window. They aren't normal, granted, but some abusive men do have less regard for children than their toys.

[LisaL]

97. There is no information in the article on her marital status at all,

yet some people have come up with an abusive husband to excuse her actions already.
:sarcasm:

[Gormy Cuss]

107. Abusive husband, abusive boyfriend, abusive mother, does it matter?

The idea is the same. It's "made up" because people are positing theories on why she acted the way she did. I for one do no excuse the action if it was out of fear of retribution. I merely offer it as an explanation for her bizarre behavior.
Some people assume her motivation was selfishness because she valued the car over the kid, but she isn't quoted as saying that in the article -- it's just a theory too. All we know from the article is that she insisted that they not break the window.

[blogslut]

108. that occured to me

n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

73. It's a crying shame when you value your car more than you do

your own child.

:-(

[gollygee]

74. I'd be trying to break the window as I was on the phone with 911!!!!

ARGGGGH this is making my maternal instincts go crazy!

Pooor child.

[ibegurpard]

76. I think this was just thoughtlessness

88 degrees is not terribly hot and if you weren't aware of how hot a car can get inside and how much faster a kid can heat up than an adult, you might try to find a solution other than breaking the window.
Hopefully, the woman learned a valuable lesson and she's lucky the price wasn't her child's life.

[LisaL]

78. If you aren't aware of this, you aren't fit to raise a chicken, let alone

a child.

[ibegurpard]

83. I would tend to agree with that

But what I'm saying is I don't think this woman was knowingly and deliberately putting her child in danger for the sake of her property. I think she was just acting thoughtlessly and ignorantly.

[LisaL]

84. She was told to break a window by 911 operator, then by

firefighters. The 911 operator told her she has to break the window because it was so hot. Sorry, saying she was ignorant in the matter just doesn't cut it, considering she was told to break the window but kept on refusing.

[Minstrel Boy]

87. "the dispatcher advised her"

That sounds like a suggestion and not a command.

[LisaL]

89. A command? What would be the difference between a suggestion

and command? Having a gun pointed to your head?
How do you think 911 operator can command anyone to do something if the person refuses to do it?

[Corgigal]

99. I was a dispatcher

it's not a damn suggestion, we are taped when we give you those instructions. Now we can't put a gun to your head BUT we did advise you to do the right thing. I also told people to do the same thing when they locked the doors and they left the pup in the car. I dispatched in Tampa Florida, we didn't screw around.

Also the cops and fire dept has a special tool they use to break the glass so it doesn't fly all over the place. I have a feeling she lied to the fire dept on how long the child was locked in the car. They probably went in and check with a clerk who said she was in the store 15 mins or so. Then they broke the window and arrested the mom. Works for me.

[ibegurpard]

93. Well, I'm willing to give the woman a certain benefit of the doubt

Simply because she didn't LEAVE the child in the car deliberately AND because of the fact that she called authorities when she discovered she had.
The rest of her behavior was just dumb and she probably kicks herself when she actually realizes how much danger she was putting her child in by letting him sit in the car while she tried to think of other solutions.
Sometimes when you're in a stressful situation, you don't think very clearly.

[LisaL]

95. And if your child dies, you have no one to blame?

What is your point? Yes, she didn't do it on purpose. But once she locked the child up, she behaved like a complete idiot. People that stupid shouldn't be raising children.

[converted_democrat]

92. What a bitch, will she have to take parenting class or something?

Or will they let her have the kid back rifgt away?

[meganmonkey]

98. What a fucking asshole.

x(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

104. What were the firemen's excuse for listening to her?

[greekspeak]

109. Perverse. This woman does not deserve children

But does deserve some serious time behind bars.

[donheld]

110. Idiot woman

She should not be left alone with children again.

[Debs]

111. Yeah

I know my kid died, but at least I didnt have to pay 50 bucks to get a new car window. I can always make another kid. The mind boggles

[Lydia Leftcoast]

112. One summer when I was in Japan (which can be tropically hot)

a news program did a demonstration after a child died from being locked in a car.

They put one of their reporters in a car in the hot sun, wearing short and a tank top, and tried to see how long he could take it.

He lasted 15 minutes before starting to feel faint and nauseated, and the temperature was already 45°C, which is about 113 degrees.

It was an unforgettable lesson: never leave any living thing in a hot car.

[Arugula Latte]

113. She should be punished by being locked in a sweltering car for

an hour then thrown in a sweltering jail cell.