MESA, AZ — Mesa police are investigating after a newborn boy was found in east Mesa Friday morning.
A woman called police after she found the baby at her doorstop near Recker and McKellips roads. She told authorities she heard her doorbell ring and when she opened her door there was a baby.
The baby was found wrapped in a blanket and did not appear to be more than a day old, according to Mesa police.
It was taken to a hospital and appears to be in good condition.
No other details on who left the child have been released as police continue to investigate.
Pete Evans works at an office plaza just several yards away across the street.
"It's just horrific, terrible, especially in this heat, it magnifies it even more. Just terrible, awful" Evans said.
He says one of his employees saw someone near the home shortly before seeing police arrive to the neighborhood. But the employee did not see the person drop off a child.
"No. She saw feet that she identified as women's feet, but that's all she really saw" he said.
Evans doesn't understand why the baby wasn't left at the fire station less than a half mile away.
Arizona Safe Haven Law allows for a baby less than 30-days-old to be dropped off anonymously, no questions asked with an on-duty firefighter or EMT, at a licensed child welfare center or adoption agency or at a church displaying safe haven signage.
"I can only assume whomever did this wasn't thinking clearly for heaven's sake," Evans said. "She's probably not even thinking Safe Haven Laws."
He says it's fortunate that someone was even home, as most people in the retirement community are gone for the summer.
All 50 states and D.C. have some sort of safe haven law, which allows a person to legally surrender an infant at a safe facility like a hospital or fire station. For more information on Arizona's Safe Haven program, click here.
