Clackamas Sheriff's Alerted to Three Kids Enclosed in Ultra Hot Automobile

The infant child was transported to a local hospital.

Photos courtesy: Clackamas Sheriff

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies received an anonymous call at 2:30 this afternoon about three kids who were left unattended in an automobile in the Promenade parking lot, on SE Sunnyside Road, in Clackamas.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Pearson and Steve Shelly arrived on the scene and located the anonymous callers described vehicle containing three children, a 6-year old girl, a 3-year old girl and a 14-month old boy.

The deputies say they recognized the interior temperature of this automobile was sizzling hot, with the youngest child, the infant boy, "bright red in color, lethargic and in obvious physical distress."

Deputy Pearson says he immediately applied a cool-pack he had taken from his lunch box and applied this cool-pack to the child's body.

"This application of the cool-pack demonstrated quick and resourceful thinking by Sheriff's patrol personnel on the scene," says Clackamas Sheriff Spokesman Jim Strovink. "This application of the cool-pack appears to have been the appropriate action and delivered... perhaps, a lifesaving measure for this 14-month old child in jeopardy."

After several minutes had elapsed while attending to the immediate needs of the children; Stovink says the interior temperature of the suspect vehicle was recorded by placing a thermometer inside the automobile.

"The thermometer spiked to an excruciating 120 degree plus interior temperature; although, this interior temperature is suspected to actually calculate to at least 140 -150 degrees. This thermometer used by the Sheriff's on scene was capable of only registering to the 120 degree mark."

He says the children were promptly provided the comfort of the interior air conditioned patrol vehicles while American Medical Response administered medical attention at the scene.

The infant child was transported to a local Portland hospital and is being held for observation and treatment of an elevated body temperature. An explained symptom of becoming exposed to excessive temperatures and overheated.

The additional two children have been placed into protective custody pending the investigation.

He says that after a short period of time, the mother of these children, who had left the children unattended in this enclosed vehicle, returned to the vehicle with a shopping bag containing merchandise.

She was identified as 26-year old Alena Obrezha of Clackamas. A short time after poice arrived on the scene, the husband of the suspect and father of the children, arrived on the scene; he is identified as 27-year old Dmitriy Buzhduga, also of Clackamas.

Strovink says emergency personnel took care of the children, who were promptly provided the comfort of the interior air conditioned patrol vehicles while Clackamas Fire District #1 administered medical attention at the scene.

Both parents have been transported to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Jail and lodged for three counts of Criminal Mistreatment; a class C felony. The total bail is $45,000 for each inmate.

Arraignment is scheduled for this matter on Monday, June 4th at 3:00 PM in the Clackamas Circuit Court, Oregon City.

Strovink says the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office would like to recognize and thank the anonymous conscientious citizen, "who witnessed this life threatening event and called the Sheriff's Office to report the three children, unattended, suffering in the sweltering vehicle. Thank you!"