
A Tennessee woman is now behind bars after video shows two young children traveling in pet kennels inside her vehicle.
Memphis police arrested 62-year-old Leimome Cheeks on two counts of child endangerment after a bystander recorded the children climbing out of the kennels on Saturday.
The report also notes that the temperature "reached 95 degrees and there were no vents in the rear of the Ford Explorer".
Skylarr Blake, Cheeks' neighbor, told WATN that Cheeks was a "nice lady" and that he couldn't "see her doing that". "For them to be in the hot vehicle like that in cages is sad", one neighbor, Nikita Blake told WREG 3.
She said they were in the kennels for a 25-mile journey from her home in Whitehaven to Collierville.
The footage shows Cheeks open the cage for one of the children, seen wearing turquoise leggings and a blue T-shirt.
Camillia Cowan, who said she was Cheeks' neighbor, according to WHBQ, was deeply troubled when she saw the video online. "For them to be in the hot vehicle like that in cages is sad", neighbor Nikita Blake told WREG. "If she did that, then that's out of character for her", one neighbor said.
Mrs Cheeks is due in court later on Monday.
Cheeks is being charged with child endangerment, while police and Child Services continue their investigations.
"I don't think she knew because she loves her grandkids", Cowan said. Officials released her from jail on bond on Sunday, according to WHQB-TV in Memphis.
"Despicable", Sonrisa Schweddy wrote on Memphis Police Department's Facebook announcement of Cheek's arrest.