Salina Police Thursday evening found two young children who had been left in a locked car at the Mid State Plaza, while their father had taken another child inside a store.

Captain Jim Norton said police sent to the parking lot in front of Big Lots at 2450 S. 9th after a call from a concerned citizen said there were two very young children in a car alone.

The father, 26-year-old Andrew M. White was found inside the store told police he went inside the store with a three year old child who needed to use the bathroom and left a one year old and five year old locked in the car.

Police were able to get into the car, after the one year old child found keys and then pushed a button to unlock the doors.

White was charged with two counts of child endangering. The children were turned over to the custody of another family member.