Police lay charges for child abandonment

The Calgary Police Service has charged a woman in connection with an abandoned baby found in a bush early Tuesday morning.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, police were called to a residence in the 2500 block of 16A Street N.W., after a woman was seen wandering around outside with an infant. The woman was yelling and banging on the side and door of the residence, despite not being known to the person inside the house.

Officers arrived on scene and located the woman, but there was no infant with her. Police and EMS conducted a search of the area and located a three-month-old boy laying in the bushes of the residence approximately 10 minutes later.

The boy was not dressed for the weather and was transported to hospital in serious condition, but he has since been upgraded to stable. Police are working with Children’s Services to ensure the safety of the child.

The woman also mentioned another child in her interactions with the officers, leading them to believe there may be another child abandoned nearby. Police immediately conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area, however, later confirmed that the woman only has one child.

The woman, believed to be the child’s mother, is charged with one count each of child abandonment and failing to provide the necessaries of life. To protect the identity of the child and privacy of the child’s family, the name of the woman will not be released.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
TEXT: 274637

CASE # 17093010/5309