Police say a lone shopper who chose to
park upstairs at the two-level parking garage discovered the
crying baby at about 12:30 p.m. yesterday. At first, the woman
thought the child was a doll, and it wasn't until the baby began
to whimper that she realized it was a living infant.
Temperatures in the stairwell when
police arrived hovered around -14, and the child was dressed
only in a white jumper, pink shirt and green hat.
"The baby was not dressed for the
conditions," Staff Sgt. Cole said.
The child was bleeding from the mouth
and nose. She was taken to North York General Hospital with
obvious signs of trauma, although nothing considered
life-threatening, police said. She is now in the care of the
Children's Aid Society and is doing well, police said.
Had it not been for the woman who chose
to park on the top level of the complex near the corner of Finch
Avenue East and Leslie Street, the baby might not have been
found until it was too late, Staff Sgt. Cole said.
"She was the only person to walk by in a
considerable amount of time and found the child," he said.
"Otherwise the baby would probably still be there. Police set up
a command post near the plaza and canvassed the area,
distributing pictures of the baby, hoping someone could identify
her.
"You've got to take into account the
mindset of somebody who would do this," Staff Sgt. Cole said.
"My concern is for any other children that are associated with
this family and the condition of the parents."
Police are also searching for a green
four-door Ford Escort.