A Bergen County sheriff's officer smashed the window of a hot van to remove a 2-year-old boy left inside as his mother shopped, authorities say.

An employee at a Hackensack Costco alerted officer Rich Carrion to the situation at around 4 p.m. Thursday. Carrion found the child crying and sweating in a car seat inside the van. The officer broke the window with his baton.

Authorities say the child was left in the car for nearly a half-hour. Witnesses recorded the officer's actions on cellphone video.

Rafael Rodriguez, who was in the parking lot at the time, says the van's window had been left open to give the child some air.

Authorities took the boy to a hospital for evaluation. He was released to his father.

Police charged the mother with child endangerment.