For the second time in less than a month, a mother has been arrested in Forsyth County for reportedly leaving a young child alone in a hot vehicle.

Dawn Meyers, 38, of Sundance Circle was being held at the Forsyth County Detention Center, where a jail spokeswoman said bond had not been set.

Meyers was arrested Thursday by Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with second-degree cruelty to children, a felony.

Authorities said Meyers left her 22-month-old son locked in her 2005 Ford Expedition on Wednesday afternoon while she was inside a veterinarian's office on Martin Road.

The truck was not on, authorities said, and the windows were rolled up. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures reached the high 80s that day.

The case was similar to a June 19 incident in which Krystal Whitehead reportedly left her son, who was about 3 months old at the time, in a vehicle for 45 minutes while she was shopping at Lakeland Plaza in Cumming.

Citing health concerns, especially during the summer, and the risk of abduction, authorities have cautioned the public against leaving children unattended in vehicles.

In Wednesday's incident, Sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Franco said Meyers went into the business, leaving the child behind for 20 to 45 minutes.

He said employees of the business called 911 about 1:30 p.m. after they realized the child was in the truck.

“The child was crying and reports were that the child was suffering from the elements he was exposed to,” Franco said.

The boy was taken to Northside Hospital–Forsyth, where he was treated and released.  

Franco said two other children, who had not been left in the truck, were with Meyers. He did not know their ages, but said they were turned over to a family member.

Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Taylor said Meyers turned herself in Thursday.

She was not charged immediately, he said, because authorities were trying to complete their investigation.

Like Meyers, Whitehead had another child with her, who was later handed over to a family member.

The temperature that June night was about 95 degrees, authorities said. Whitehead’s infant was treated and released.

Whitehead, 25, also was arrested and charged with third-degree cruelty to children.

The Division of Family and Children Services was notified of both incidents.

E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com