Case of Abandoned Baby: Not Abandoned

The case of the newborn girl reported abandoned at a Long Beach gas station took yet another twist Tuesday when police announced that she was not left there after all, and her mother and grandmother may face criminal charges.

Long Beach Police Department officers were originally involved in the case after receiving a 9-1-1 call reporting a newborn abandoned at USA Gas Station at Seventh Street and Alamitos Avenue. It was about 7:35 p.m. Monday, and the caller was a self-described passerby who spotted the baby abandoned near the tire inflation pumps, and said she took the newborn home before calling 9-1-1.

At about 10:45 p.m. Monday, police spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said officers had located the mother of the newborn, and that the mother had actually given the baby to the caller. A KTLA reporter had also tweeted that he'd just interviewed one of the women involved.

By Tuesday morning, the Long Beach Police Department offered a sorted-out story of alleged false reporting and unnecessary police involvement given that state law allows for the safe surrender of a newborn within 72 hours of birth at locations such as fire stations and hospitals.

The newborn had already been taken to St. Mary's Hospital in stable condition, and the infant's mother was also treated medically, as police worked to unravel the perplexing case.

It turned out, police said, that Paloma Espinosa, 28, gave birth to the baby girl at home Monday. She allegedly brought the newborn to her mother, Sonia Hernandez, and told her she had found the newborn Monday night at the USA Gas station. But Hernandez somehow learned the truth.

Hernandez, the baby's grandmother, then knowingly falsely reported to police that she found the baby abandoned at the gas station, Long Beach police Sgt. Rico Fernandez said.

Espinosa apparently ``wanted to protect a relationship she was in,'' Fernandez said. He declined to elaborate.

The newborn girl, who appeared to be healthy, was taken to a hospital and placed in protective custody. He said police will present their case to the District Attorney's Office, where prosecutors will decide if one or both should be charged with a crime.

Neither was arrested, police said. Espinosa faces possible charges of child abandonment and child endangerment charges, and Hernandez faces a possible charge of filing a false police report, Fernandez said.