Dad Abandons Baby In Parking Lot, Crashes, Arrested With Cocaine: Police

SOLANO COUNTY, CA -- A 16-day-old baby boy was found abandoned in a Suisun City shopping center parking lot Monday, allegedly by the infant child's father, an 18-year-old man who was arrested a short time later in possession of cocaine after having been involved in a hit-and-run crash in a nearby city, according to Suisun City police.

The baby -- who has since been airlifted to a hospital where it remained critical but stable Monday night after testing revealed it was suffering from an undisclosed condition -- was discovered at about 3:15 p.m. at Sunset Shopping Center by employees of a barbershop who noticed a baby carrier in the parking lot, police said. Upon looking closer, the employees found the tiny child inside and called police.

Officers soon arrived at the shopping center located at 135 Sunset Ave. and began interviewing witnesses as medical personnel transported the infant to North Bay Medical Center. Police reviewed video surveillance, which showed a vehicle seen next to the baby carrier, then identified the child abandonment suspect as Daniel Mitchell, 18, of Fairfield.

Meanwhile, Mitchell was detained by police in nearby Fairfield after reportedly being involved in a hit-and-run crash.

Suisun City police officers soon arrived at North Bay Medical Center where Mitchell was transported for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. After confirming he was the father of the infant, Mitchell was arrested on suspicion of child abandonment, child endangerment, committing a felony while on bail and possession of cocaine.

Mitchell had been arrested less than 30 days prior on suspicion of possession of a firearm when Suisun City police were investigating a report June 27 of a burglary on Gray Hawk Lane.

Monday night, the male baby was being monitored by officials with the Solano County Child Welfare Services, according to police. Initially, the baby had been taken to North Bay Medical Center Monday, but after testing revealed a more serious health matter, it was airlifted to a different hospital, police said Monday night.

Suisun City police said that after speaking with the infant's mother, they are not considering her a suspect in Monday's incident.

Photos via Suisun City Police Department