Newborn left on doorstep

COEUR d'ALENE — An abandoned, newborn baby was found early Thursday on the doorstep of a Coeur d'Alene apartment building.

A resident in the area of Hanley Avenue and North Courcelles Parkway was leaving for work when they found the infant wrapped in a towel in a stroller about 6 a.m., according to a press release from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

The baby was taken by medical personnel to Kootenai Health.

"The baby appears to be a full term, healthy baby that was born only hours earlier," the release said.

Detectives are working to identify and locate the baby’s birth mother or any other relatives.

Anyone with information that could assist in identifying the baby’s mother is asked to contact police, 208-769-2320.

Idaho has what is known as the "Safe Haven Act," which applies to where newborns can be legally left and people are immune from civil or criminal liability.

Those areas include fire and police stations and hospitals.

"The safe haven shall not inquire as to the identity of the custodial parent and, if the identity of a parent is known to the safe haven, the safe haven shall keep all information as to the identity confidential," the law says.