Police: Baby girl found in dumpster
Child alive, hospitalized
NEW HAVEN — A baby girl was found abandoned but alive in a dumpster outside of a Newhallville apartment complex, according to police.
Capt. Anthony Duff said officers responded to the Presidential Gardens complex, located at in the 500 block of Dixwell Avenue, around 2 p.m. The complex also includes buildings at on Shelton Avenue and Hazel Street, he said.
“New Haven police are investigating after maintenance workers found a baby in a dumpster outside a Newhallville apartment building,” said Duff.
The baby remained hospitalized in stable condition Monday afternoon, he said.
Mayor Justin Elicker said the child found in the dumpster is an 8-monthold girl.
“As a father, it is unthinkable for someone to do this to a child,” said Elicker, who has two young daughters.
“Police believe they have a suspect and are working to address the situation,” Elicker said.
Duff said arriving officers requested emergency medical providers respond to the location to care for the baby.
Duff said an ambulance then took the infant alive to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital at 1 Park St.
As of 3:30 p.m. officers remained on scene and had located the child’s mother, he said. Officers at the scene later were examining
“As a father, it is unthinkable for someone to do this to a child. ... Police believe they have a suspect and are working to address the situation” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker
a car seat next to a dumpster that was blocked off with police tape, before clearing the scene soon after 4 p.m.
Alder Steven Winter, D-21, said he learned of the news from a Register reporter.
“I would be keen to know anything the police are able to uncover about the circumstances of this child being found in a dumpster,” he said.
“The welfare of the child is the No. 1 priority and who can take care of the child,” he said..
Rick Chardon, a maintenance technician at Presidential Gardens, said the baby had been found by a tenant, who then turned the child over to staff.
“(The situation is) ridiculous. Ridiculous. A blatant disregard for life allogether,” said Chardon, who noted that he had a small child. “A sad state of affairs.”
Dee LaGrande, a resident of Presidential Gardens, expressed shock and sorrow at the incident. She has lived here for nine years; it hasn’t been bad, she said.
“This is horrible.... people are actually throwing babies in the trash can?” said LaGrande. “For this to happen, it’s crazy.”
Ruth Harris and Margaret Outlaw, standing on Outlaw’s porch, also expressed shock and sorrow about the incident.
“That’s got to be the saddest thing ever. How can... any person, be that cruel?” Harris said. “It just tears your heart up inside... It hurts me and it’s not even my child.”
“How do you walk away?” said Outlaw.
Harris said she hoped the baby could be protected from whoever did this to her.
More information will be provided as the investigation continues, Duff said.