A 28-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly abandoning her newborn baby in a trash bag outside an apartment building in the Bronx. Claudette Tinnin, who lives nearby, was apprehended by police six hours after the infant was discovered. She faces charges including reckless endangerment, child abandonment, and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
The infant boy was found Wednesday afternoon on East 223rd Street near White Plains Road. According to police sources, the child was wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a trash bag with the umbilical cord still attached. A 71-year-old resident of the building discovered the baby and immediately called 911.
Responding officers from the New York City Police Department found the newborn conscious and alert. Rather than wait for an ambulance, officers transported the infant in their patrol car to a nearby medical facility. The baby was later reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have not yet confirmed when or where Tinnin gave birth. She was hospitalized following her arrest and is currently awaiting arraignment.
This incident comes just weeks after another New York City woman, 30-year-old Assa Diawara, was charged for leaving her newborn daughter on a subway platform during rush hour. That baby was also transported to a hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
New York law provides a legal alternative for desperate mothers. The state’s Safe Haven law allows parents to safely surrender unharmed newborns up to 30 days old at designated locations such as hospitals, police stations, and fire departments. The law is designed to prevent tragedies and provide care for infants while protecting the anonymity of the parent.
Authorities are reminding the public that abandoning a child is not only illegal but can endanger the infant’s life. Safe Haven laws are in place to provide a compassionate, lawful solution.
