Crime

Mother who police say abandoned baby in Lakewood is jailed

This baby boy, approximately 3 months old, was found abandoned early Monday in Lakewood, according to police. His mother later said she left him there while on drugs.
This baby boy, approximately 3 months old, was found abandoned early Monday in Lakewood, according to police. His mother later said she left him there while on drugs. Lakewood Police Department Courtesy

The woman Lakewood police say abandoned her baby in a front yard earlier this week has been arrested.

The woman was booked into the Pierce County Jail on Wednesday on one count of second-degree child abandonment. The News Tribune generally does not name suspects in crimes until they are arraigned.

The child was found about 1:30 a.m. Monday in the 8500 block of John Dower Road Southeast by someone walking through the area. The baby was fine, but police couldn’t figure out his identity.

The child’s mother saw a news report and came forward while at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood. She told police she was on drugs and thought she was being chased when she left her son in someone’s grass.

She was taken into custody Wednesday after her discharge from the hospital.

The child’s father was taken into custody on an unrelated misdemeanor charge, police said.

Kenny Ocker: 253-597-8627, @KennyOcker

This story was originally published April 5, 2017 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Mother who police say abandoned baby in Lakewood is jailed."

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