Nassau mom accused of leaving kids home alone

A Massapequa woman was arrested on child endangerment charges after she left her two children alone in her apartment Thursday, police said.

The children, ages 6 and 1, were not injured.

But, Nassau County police officers responding to a call that the children were alone said they not only saw the kids alone inside the apartment -- but outside it, as well.

Melissa Garcia, 27, of Melrose Avenue, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and was given an appearance ticket for arraignment Oct. 3 in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

The children were released to the custody of Garcia's mother and, police said, Child Protective Services was notified.

The incident was reported at 6:15 p.m. when the landlord contacted police to report Garcia was seen "entering her vehicle and leaving" the premises without her children. Police said officers were at the home when Garcia returned and told them she had left the children alone for about 15 minutes.