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Father Wants Safe Haven Baby Returned

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TBO Staff

Published: November 17, 2007

Updated: 11/17/2007 12:33 pm

LAKE WALES - The father of a newborn baby boy surrendered by his mother at the Lake Wales Fire Department wants the child back, according to published reports.

The father told authorities that he had not known the mother was turning over the child in accordance with Florida's safe haven for newborns law, The Ledger newspaper reported.

The child is currently in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families. A DCF spokesman Saturday confirmed that "one or more" of the child's parents now want him back. The spokesman said any decision made on custody would focus on the well-being of the child.

Lake Wales police officials were available for comment Saturday.

On Thursday, a woman presumed to be the child's mother left him at the Lake Wales Fire Department's main station about 8:50 a.m., Fire Chief Jerry Brown said.

She was leaving the baby in a carrier at the front door of the fire station when several firefighters saw her, Brown said. They started to ask her questions, but she declined to answer and walked away, he said.

She left a note indicating the baby was born Oct. 22 and was scheduled for feeding at 10:30 a.m., Brown said.

"The baby was checked by the firefighters, who are all EMTs or paramedics, and appears to be in excellent condition," Brown said.

Under state law, fire and rescue stations are "safe havens" for newborns, places where parents can surrender their babies without legal repercussions.

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