COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — The Coeur d'Alene Police Department (CDAPD) found an abandoned newborn baby on the steps of an apartment complex early Thursday morning.
At approximately 6 a.m. on Thursday, officers arrived to the area of Hanely Avenue and North Courcelles Parkway after receiving a report of an abandoned baby. The baby was reportedly left on the doorstep of a nearby apartment.
The baby, who police said was born just hours before they arrived to the apartment, was wrapped in a towel and left in an outside stroller. A resident of the apartment found the baby as they were leaving for work, according to CDAPD.
Medical personnel arrived and took the baby to Kootenai Health to be evaluated. Police said the baby appeared to be a full-term, healthy baby.
Idaho is a safe haven state and has been one since 2001.
According to the Idaho Safe Haven Act, safe haven spots include hospitals, physicians, and fire stations if personnel are on duty.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue is safe haven and while Fire Chief Chris Way says they’ve never had an infant dropped off in his time there, that doesn’t mean they’re not prepared for the possibility.
“Obviously today’s events will probably prompt us to have another discussion with all of our men and women at the stations to just remind them that this could happen and if it happens, this is how we react to it and what should happen,” said Way.
Detectives were called to the apartment and are currently working to identify and locate the baby's birth mother and any other biological relatives.
Anyone with information regarding the baby's mother is asked to contact the Coeur d'Alene Police Department at (208) 769-2320.
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