KENTWOOD, MI – One woman is facing charges after a passerby found her 4-month-old daughter alone in a parked car Wednesday.

The incident took place at about 1:40 p.m. in the Sam’s Club parking lot, 4326 28th St. SE, when the passerby noticed the infant in a car with its windows slightly rolled down, according to Kentwood Police Chief Tom Hillen.

After walking back and forth past the car several times without seeing any related adults, the man removed the baby’s car seat from the unlocked vehicle and took her to the store’s customer service desk.

Police were called, but before they arrived the mother returned to her car to discover her child missing. After heading to the customer service area, she collected her daughter and began to drive out of the parking lot.

Hillen said he was not sure whether the woman, Chardonnay Henderson, 27, was aware that police had been called. She was, however, stopped by police before she left.

Henderson was arrested and the child was released to a grandparent.

Police determined the mother was gone for about 20 minutes before returning to her car. She had been gone for about nine minutes when the passerby found and removed the child.

The temperature was about 75 degrees at the time, Hillen said.

Although Hillen said Henderson was not forthcoming with police, she is not charged with obstruction in the case. She is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The misdemeanor is a generalized charge that can be applied when a child has been put in danger –situations where Child Protective Service is typically involved, said Kent County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Becker

Henderson was being held at the Kent County Jail but has since been bonded out.

As for the passerby, police are commending his quick thinking.

“They did the right thing because anything could have happened,” Hillen said. “It takes courage.”