CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles police, continuing to investigate why a man apparently abandoned a baby girl at a Mid-City hospital, said Monday that “his involvement is still being considered for criminal prosecution.”
Police said the 6-month-old girl was reunited with her mother after her grandparents saw a televised news report and called police.
The mother apparently left the baby with her biological father for a weekend visit, police said. Half an hour later, the baby was brought to the Olympia Medical Center by a man who was not her father. The unidentified man dropped off the girl at the hospital, asked an employee to care for her and then quickly left, police said.
California’s safe-surrender law allows parents to turn over newborns to hospitals and fire stations without legal repercussions, but only if the child is 3 days old or younger. The unidentified man went to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Station on Sunday after his own mother “saw his picture on TV, contacted him and advised him to go speak to detectives,” said Norma Eisenman of the LAPD.
“He has not been booked at this time, but criminal charges may be sought upon further interviews of involved parties and additional evidence secured,” Eisenman said.
-- Ari B. Bloomekatz
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