KEY POINTS:
Police say they are disturbed by the apparent abandoning of a 6-month-old baby boy in his pram on a city street.
Acting sergeant Steve Allpress of the Rotorua police said the baby was left on the corner of Brookland and Bell Rds in Western Heights.
He was found safe and well by a member of the public with a bottle of milk and nappies in the pram.
Mr Allpress said a male Maori in his 30s was seen by members of the public pushing a pram up Clayton Rd about 1.30pm yesterday. He then turned into Brookland Rd and was seen by witnesses stopping and sitting on a fence before getting up and walking away, leaving the pram on a footpath.
Mr Allpress said witnesses described the man's behaviour as distressed.
"After abandoning the baby he walked off back towards Clayton Rd and disappeared."
Mr Allpress said the man was seen again about 3pm walking up Brookland Rd with two more children, a girl aged 7 and a boy aged 8.
Mr Allpress said the incident was disturbing.
He said the man appeared intoxicated.
The boy was found in good shape and was not distressed in any way. All of the children involved have been put into the care of Child, Youth and Family.
"A member of the public changed his nappy while waiting for police, so that was pretty good."
A man charged with abandoning a child under 6 will appear in the Rotorua District Court next Thursday.
- DAILY POST
