A Google Maps screenshot shows the vicinity where the baby was found.
By: Sara Florez
Toronto police say a newborn baby boy was found abandoned this morning behind the plaza at Keele and Lawrence Ave. West.
A couple first spotted the newborn in a outdoor walkway at the southeast corner of the plaza at 11 a.m. Sgt. Kevin Kaposy told reporters at the scene the couple wrapped the boy in a hoodie and took him to a nearby home before contacting police.
When police first arrived to the scene the baby was breathing and in stable condition, despite the frigid temperature. Police believe the boy was born at around 10:30 a.m. and when he was found he was bloody and the umbilical cord was still attached. The newborn was rushed to a local hospital by paramedics and is currently in critical condition.
Const. David Hopkinson told the media their current priority is the baby’s welfare.
“Right now the most important thing is to make sure that this baby gets the care that it needs to survive,” Hopkinson said.
“That is the only thing the officers will be concentrating on (right now). We will have plenty of time to investigate once that is done,” he added.
The area where the baby was abandoned has been taped off for investigators. Nearby business owners and people from the community were concerned the boy was found in their plaza.
Baskin N’ Robbins store owner, Manni Duong was shocked to go into work this morning to find police and media surrounding her store.
“All of the news outlets and a bunch of police were the first thing I saw when I opened and everyone was talking about it as I was walking into my store,” she said.
Duong didn’t know the magnitude of the situation until her delivery man explained to her what the scene was just at the back of her store.
“At around 11:15 a.m. our ice cream delivery guy came like he does every morning and he parks at the back of our store,” Duong said. “He was leaving around 11:30 a.m. and the police told him he couldn’t because they taped all of that area off. He can’t even get to his truck so he’s stuck here in my store right now.”
Even though the investigation is in its early stages, Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said they hope surveillance from the plaza could help.
“I’ve heard so many stories about how the baby was found but I’ve just recently heard that that the bowling alley has good footage,” Duong said. “We unfortunately don’t have any because our cameras aren’t working at the moment.”