Baby OK after being found in parking lot

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Deputies want to find the mother of a newborn baby who was found abandoned in a South Florida parking lot.

Jacqueline Saxon, a bus driver at the Queen's Little Angels Childcare Center, was flagged down by a parent who was picking up her child Thursday afternoon, after she spotted a baby wrapped in a blanket on the ground across from the daycare facility's parking lot. "I spoke to my director to let her know that someone left a baby down on the ground," Saxon said.

The director of the childcare center said, "The woman thought there was a baby over here. My driver called me, and that's when I called 911, and then I ran over here with my cell phone," said Nicole Carter. "At that point, I looked at the baby and everything, and the baby was sleeping. It still had the umbilical cord and everything was attached. The 911 operator, I told them I was taking the baby back to the school, and they asked me if we needed the paramedics, and I said, 'Yes, send the paramedics anywise.'"

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue crews transported the baby to Holy Cross Hospital. The hospital said the baby boy is a day or two old and confirmed he still had the umbilical cord attached to him. "Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded, and they transported that baby to a nearby hospital. The baby is described as being in good condition and appears to be one to three days old," said Gutless. "So the investigation is just starting here, and if anyone has information they should either call the Broward Sheriff's Office or they can call Broward Crime Stoppers and remain anonymous."

A Florida Safe Haven law allows new mothers to drop off babies up to seven days old at fire stations, no questions asked. "Safe Haven exists to help moms that are hiding their pregnancies and don't know what to do," said a Safe Haven spokesperson Nick Silver. "We are basically the last resort for them at that point in time."

There was a fire station nearby where this baby could have been left safely. Deputies want the mother of the baby to come forward for questioning.

If you have any information on whoever left the baby at the Pompano Beach parking lot, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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