Minors Left In Vehicle In Near-Freezing Temperatures Prompt Child Neglect Investigation At Callaway Restaurant

CALLAWAY, Md. — A trip inside a restaurant reportedly left two young children in a cold vehicle for hours, leading to charges of neglect and endangerment in Callaway. According to police, the children were left unattended in a stationary vehicle at near-freezing temperatures.

On Jan. 8, 2026, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO) responded to Tacos Hacienda Mexican Grill following reports that children had been left alone in a vehicle. Officers located the vehicle, which was not running, and observed two rear-facing car seats inside. The temperature outside was approximately 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to police, surveillance footage shows the vehicle arriving at 4:53 p.m. Police report the minors were left unattended for over two hours, the vehicle remained parked, was not running, and no one returned to the vehicle to check on the minors. Police allege the driver, Juan Carlos Herrera Ruiz, 26, of Lexington Park, stated he had been inside the restaurant for only about 15 minutes.

Ruiz has been charged with two counts of neglect of a minor and two counts of confining an unattended child. A summons was issued on Jan. 9, 2026. A preliminary inquiry is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2026, according to court records.

Under Maryland law, child neglect can carry penalties of up to 10 years of incarceration and/or fines depending on case specifics, while confining an unattended child is generally classified as a misdemeanor with up to one year of incarceration and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

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