Ohio Parents Arrested for Leaving Infant Daughter in McDonald's
Ohio police have charged the parents of an infant with child endangerment after they left their 3-month-old baby alone at a McDonald's restaurant.
Police in Elyria arrested Aaron Tate, 29, and Rachel Jaajaa, 22, on Friday, April 3 after they abandoned their newborn daughter at a McDonald's outside Cleveland, reports NBC affiliate WKYC.
According to officials, the incident occurred when Jaajaa, who worked at the McDonald's, finished her shift and planned to catch a ride with a co-worker. However, Tate showed up at the restaurant, carrying the baby in a car seat and insisting that she take their child. But Jaajaa refused because she had plans.
Eventually, Tate left the child in McDonald's and drove off. That's when Jaajaa told her co-worker to follow him and confronted him near a Salvation Army.
Meanwhile, other employees at the fast food chain called police.
Officers found the parents arguing in front of a Burger King over who would care for the baby over the weekend.
"Neither of them really wanted to take the baby for the weekend. They both decided collectively to leave the baby in the dining room," said Police Capt. Chris Costantino, according to The Chronicle-Telegram.
Police said the mother told Tate that she was going out with friends and he should keep the baby. However, the baby's father told her that he believed that if he kept the baby in his care, then Jaajaa would accuse him of kidnapping.
Fortunately, Costantino said the baby girl was found in good health.
"The fact they just left the baby was disturbing, to say the least," Costantino said. "We are grateful people stepped in so quickly to ensure the child's safety."
"Officers were able to track down the parents pretty quickly and (they) were arrested," Costantino added.
The parents were taken to Lorain County Jail and charged with child endangerment, which is a first-degree misdemeanor.
After contacting Children Services, the baby was placed in the custody of Jaajaa's sister, reports Fox 8.
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