California police are asking for the public’s help in regards to a “person of interest” involving a baby who was found abandoned in a Walmart restroom last week.
Just before noon last Monday, a patron at a Walmart in Lakewood, located at 2770 E. Carson Street, contacted store personnel after finding a baby boy alone in the men’s bathroom at the establishment, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release.
The baby boy was discovered inside of a locked stall that was “undergoing repairs,” KTLA reports, citing police.
He was left on the floor of the stall “pretty exposed,” without basic baby accessories such as a something to hold him in or even a blanket, Lt. Todd Deeds said, according to the news station.
The identity of the child, who officials believe to be about 12 to 15 months old, or his parents or guardians aren’t known at the time, police said.
Authorities haven’t released a photo of the boy, who hasn’t been reported missing, but described him as being black with dark hair and brown eyes, and weighing approximately 20 pounds.
Deeds said at a news conference that authorities identified a male person of interest after they reviewed hours of surveillance footage from the store.
“At this point we don’t know who the child is or who he belongs to, but we do have a person of interest that we’re looking at. Our detectives went through hours and hours of videotape.”
Deeds added that the baby is believed to have been concealed, possibly in a backpack the person of interest was seen wearing, when he was transported to the restroom.
Further, the lieutenant said the man drove to Walmart in an unlicensed vehicle, and only entered the bathroom of the store before exiting a short while later.
“He did not have license plates on his car. When he parked in the lot he parked far away from the front door. When he walked into Walmart he walked directly to the men’s bathroom, he was there for a couple of minutes, and then he is seen leaving,” Deeds said.
Deeds added that the person of interest walked away from the scene “at a very fast pace.”
He is believed to have been driving a gold or beige 2000-2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, according to the release.
The child is doing well, according to police, who said “he is being well taken care of and is safe.”
Anyone with information pertaining to the case is urged to contact the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273, or email specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or through the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
