Last Wednesday, March 16th Galesburg Police were dispatched to Walmart for a well-being check. An employee called police after observing a child left unattended in a vehicle parked in the fire lane. The employee told dispatch the mother was believed to still be in the store, and intoxicated. Officers arrived and observed the child asleep and unrestrained in an improperly-installed car seat of the unlocked sedan. Officers also located the keys to the vehicle outside dangling from a shopping cart near the car. Employees also advised the driver of the vehicle was believed to be shoplifting. When 24-year old Kayla Martinez of Peoria exited the store and made eye contact with officers, she immediately turned around and tried to go back inside but was stopped by officers. She was found to be in possession of over $76 worth of stolen merchandise from Walmart. Martinez changed her story several times and she was eventually taken into custody. The child was released to his father. Martinez was transported to the Knox County Jail. She was charged with Retail Theft, Driving on a Suspended License, and Endangering the Life and Health of a Child. GPD notified DCFS to conduct an investigation.
