Intoxicated father leaves child
out in the rain

By Adam Martin, Bay City News Service

March 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO(BCN) - San Francisco police today took a man into custody after he allegedly left his one-month-old child outside in the rain.

A San Francisco police officer who identified himself as Officer Celis, said police responded to a call at 8:05 p.m. in the 400 block of Fifth Avenue. There, officers discovered the child, who is one month old today, unattended in the rain.

The 22-year-old mother and 21-year-old father of the child apparently got into an argument over the father's drinking, Celis said. The man, who Celis said was intoxicated, wanted to take the child out on a walk, but the mother protested and the two argued. The father then allegedly left with the child.

Celis said the child's mother asked the paternal grandfather for help, and the grandfather called police. The grandfather said his son was very intoxicated and had taken his grandson, Celis said.

Officers responded to the scene, Celis said, looking for the father and child.

"We scour the area, find the guy, but no child,'' Celis said.

"Eventually we find the child under a van in a puddle.''

Celis said the child was unharmed, other than being cold and wet.

Paramedics took the child and mother to a local hospital to warm up, Celis said, while police took the man to jail, where he will be booked on child endangerment charges.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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