CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has released photos of a woman considered a person of interest regarding a recent incident involving a baby girl found with a man at the RTA station on Cleveland’s East Side Saturday.
A spokesperson for the GCRTA confirmed the woman in the photos told police she was the baby girl’s mother and they are looking to identify her. Anyone with info is asked to contact police at 216-566-5163.
Authorities previously said that the baby was found with a man on Monday at the RTA West Boulevard bus stop. New updates Tuesday revealed the baby was found with a man in a bus shelter in the area of Superior Avenue and East 105th Street Saturday night.
The man was waiting for the bus with the baby, and the bus driver contacted RTA police, reporting that they didn’t think the man was meant to have the baby.
When RTA police arrived they asked the man, later identified as Bennie M. Anderson, 67, for proof that the baby was his, and he was unable to, officials said.
Police observed his hands were trembling and his carelessness regarding the supporting of the baby girl’s head, the report said. EMS had to intervene to correct the way he held her several times during their interaction.
Police noted that during the interaction with Anderson, he became uncooperative when asked to provide his name, but eventually he did and police found he had a felony warrant for a parole violation, according to a police report. He was later transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail.
At one point, police said a woman, whose photos were released by GRTA, walked over from across the street after recording the interaction with police and said she was the mother of the child. The woman was seen with a stroller containing clothes.
When asked for her name, she gave the name Love Anderson, which didn’t match the database, police said. She also couldn’t tell police what the baby’s name was or what month the baby was born.
Police said the woman was given several opportunities to identify herself so they could release the baby to her.
Due to county protocol, the baby was transported to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital before she was placed in the care of the county. She remains in foster care as authorities work to identify her and her parents.
"She seems very well taken care of," said Elizabeth Nekoloff, Administrator of the Children's Hotline for the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. "There were no concerns when we brought her here. UH had no concerns about her care. She looked healthy."
County officials said that the baby appears to be about six months old.
Authorities said they are looking for potential relatives or anyone who knows the child’s identity to help find her family.
County officials ask that anyone with information regarding her identity call 216-696-KIDS or 911.
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