NEW LONDON - A father has been arrested after leaving his toddler abandoned in a stroller on Bank Street in New London Monday night.
New London Fire Department officials said that a passing motorist spotted a child abandoned in a stroller at around 7 p.m. Monday night.
The young girl, estimated to be between 2-3 years old, was taken to a nearby firehouse. Firefighters were returning from a call when the good Samaritan--who was later identified as Brennan Ward, a local professional MMA fighter--walked into the firehouse pushing the stroller.
The girl was evaluated and found to be in good health but was taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital for safekeeping and to get checked out for exposure, and to make sure the child wasn't injured during the incident.
Ward told FOX 61 he was at a convenience store when he noticed the stroller. That's when his adrenaline kicked in, and he sprung to action.
Police identified the child's father, Matthew Simpson, 25, with a last known address of 154 Prospect Street in Norwich. Police said witnesses saw him drinking most of the day in New London and, before the child was found on Bank Street, he was last seen in the area of 33 Tilley Street in New London with the stroller.
Police said that at around 7:30 p.m. a highly intoxicated Simpson was found and taken into custody in the bathroom at Union Station on Water Street.
"We got a call about a gentleman, who was unconscious in the men's room at the train station, which is only about two short blocks away from where the baby was found," said Deputy Chief Peter Reichard of the New London Police Department.
He was charged with risk of injury to a minor and held in lieu of $99,000 bail. He was arraigned Tuesday, and was ordered by a judge to seek drug counseling and not to contact the mother and child.
Police said the child's mother, who lives with Simpson, said that Simpson was supposed to be babysitting the child and that the child had been in his care since 12:30 p.m.
The Department of Children and Families was notified and opened their own investigation into the incident.
