Man finds newborn baby in NE Portland field

By Associated Press Published: Aug 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 11:25 PM PST
Man finds newborn baby in NE Portland field »Play Video
Police say the baby girl, just hours old, was in this northeast Portland field. She is reportedly in good condition and in state custody.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A healthy, newborn girl has been taken into protective custody after a man discovered her in a field Sunday.

A Portland Police Bureau spokesman says the man entered the field about 10 a.m. after his dogs wouldn't stop barking and he heard what he thought might be a kitten. The field is located adjacent to the Gateway Fred Meyer at 1111 N.E. 102nd Ave.

He contacted police, and officers patrolling nearby found the 29-year-old woman who had just given birth. She has not been charged with a crime, but the investigation remains active.

The child is in good condition and is in state custody.

To prevent unwanted newborns from being abandoned or killed, Oregon passed the "Safe Place for Newborns" law in 2001. The law allows a parent to leave an infant that is 30 days old or younger with an employee of a medical facility or law-enforcement agency - no questions asked unless there are signs of abuse.

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