An hour-old baby is found alive in a bag in a gas station trash can as police officers search for the mother in California
- Crews were called to the Fullerton gas station around 3:30 p.m. Thursday
- Police are searching for the baby’s mother, whose identity is unknown
A one-hour-old baby was found alive Thursday in a trash can at a gas station in Fullerton, Orange County, prompting authorities to search for the mother.
Crews were called to the Chevron gas station on the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue around 3:30 p.m. after the little boy was discovered in the bathroom, according to the Metro Cities Fire Department.
The baby had been placed in a bag in the trash can and was found by a gas station employee, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Officers immediately took life-saving measures and firefighters rushed the baby to a nearby children’s hospital in the city of Orange. The Fullerton Police Department said he was in critical but stable condition.
Authorities are investigating security footage in their search for the mother, whose identity is unknown.
The baby had been placed in a bag in the trash can and was found by an employee at the Fullerton gas station, according to CBS Los Angeles
When the police arrived, they immediately initiated life-saving measures. Firefighters then took the baby to a nearby children’s hospital in the city of Orange
“It’s an active investigation. They are working on all leads possible to do whatever they can to resolve this issue,” said Sergeant Ryan O’Neil of the Fullerton Police Department.
O’Neil said: “The call for service was a possible newborn child in the bathroom bin. Upon arrival, officers discovered a newborn child in the trash can and immediately took life-saving measures.
“Fullerton Fire responded very quickly and took the child to a local hospital for further medical attention.”
It is not known whether the baby’s mother gave birth at the gas station.
Sergeant Ryan O’Neil of the Fullerton Police Department said: “It is an active investigation. They are working on all possible clues to do everything possible to solve this problem.
Crews were called to the Chevron gas station on the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue around 3:30 p.m. after the little boy was discovered in the bathroom, according to the Metro Cities Fire Department
O’Neil said, “I think that would be a tragic event for anyone who got into this situation.”
“There are safe baby delivery laws in place that allow a parent, guardian or mother to drop off their child within 72 hours of birth, no questions asked. There are hospitals that are designated as safe delivery along with fire departments,” O’Neil said.
The procedure is legal, confidential and free of charge. The person must indicate that they wish to drop off the baby safely and will be provided with matching ID bracelets with the baby in case the person wishes to reclaim the baby later. An optional medical questionnaire will also be given to the person delivering the baby.
Anyone with information about the infant’s abandonment was asked to call Detective Marcus Saenz at 714-738-5361. Anonymous calls can be made to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or sent to ocrimestoppers.org.