GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — Gulfport police say Meridian couple has been arrested after they left their children in a hot car to go gambling at the Island View Casino.

Sgt. Damon McDaniel tells The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1DJhSX7) a security officer alerted the police about the children Saturday, which led to the arrest of 32-year-old James Terrell Dunn and 33-year-old Monique Latrice Newton on two counts each of felony child abuse.

McDaniel said Dunn told the security officer he was leaving his car in a parking spot with the windows covered to protect it from the sun.

McDaniel says officers found a 9-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy sitting in the back seat with the windows rolled up.

According to the National Weather Service, the heat index for Saturday was 109 degrees.

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