Woman Leaves Child Home Alone

ST. AMANT, La. (AP) — Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies have arrested a woman after she allegedly left her 8-year-old child at home alone.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/TS093c ) 33-year-old Joy Quirk, of St. Amant, was arrested after deputies received a complaint over the child's welfare.

When deputies arrived at the home, Sheriff Jeff Wiley says officers found the child home alone and sleeping in a bedroom.

Quirk told deputies she left for about 20 minutes to retrieve her vehicle. The child was placed in the care of a family member.

Quirk was booked on a misdemeanor charge of child desertion and was released from jail on Wednesday after posting bond.

It was unclear whether Quirk has an attorney.