Police Investigating Possible Child Neglect Case

Share

By By Joe Furia

Summary

Auburn police say a mother spent three hours inside Freddie's Casino, leaving her 13-day-old baby girl alone in a car in the casino's parking lot.

Story Published: Jul 19, 2002 at 7:27 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:45 AM PDT

AUBURN - Child Protective Services is investigating reports of a possible case of child neglect in Auburn.

Auburn police say a mother spent three hours inside Freddie's Casino, leaving her 13-day-old baby girl alone in a car in the casino's parking lot.

When investigators found the mother inside the casino at about eight o'clock Thursday night, she told them she'd only been there a few minutes. She also told them she'd gone in to look for a friend.

But, surveillance tapes told police another story.

"Well, they found she got there at about 5:20 when they reviewed the tapes," Cheryl Price of the Auburn Police Department told KOMO 4 News, "and she was still there when fire and police arrived (at 8:00)."

The 13-day-old girl was taken to Auburn Regional Medical Center. Doctors released her Friday morning saying she was doing fine.

Child Protective Services returned the baby to her mother, claiming the infant showed no signs of neglect and that, in their opinion, she is not in imminent danger.

CPS now has 90 days to review, and if an investigation deems it necessary - change that decision.