Police: Calif couple tried to sell baby at Walmart
In this photo provided by the Salinas Police Department, Patrick Fousek, 38, is shown. Fousek and 20-year-old Samantha Tomasini face child endangerment charges after police say they tried to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 outside a Walmart store. Credit: AP
SALINAS, Calif. (AP) — A California couple faces child endangerment charges after police say they tried to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 outside a Walmart store.
Salinas police spokesman, Officer Lalo Villegas, said Thursday that Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, were arrested early Wednesday, hours after Fousek allegedly approached two women outside Walmart and asked if they’d like to purchase his child.
The women initially thought Fousek was joking, but when he became persistent, they became suspicious and reported it to police, Villegas said.
“They did an outstanding job and gave our officers good information. I don’t know if they’re mothers but they definitely had that instinct to help,” Villegas said.
Fousek and Tomasini were arrested at 1 a.m. Wednesday at their home. Officers said the couple appeared high on methamphetamine and the house was in disarray. A police report also claimed that Tomasini told Child Protective Services, who took the baby, that she had breast-fed the infant while under the influence, Villegas said.
The couple was also booked on charges of being under the influence of narcotics, and Fousek was also served with an extra charge of violating probation. Villegas did not have details of Fousek’s previous brush with the law.
The couple was expected to be in court for an arraignment Friday, at which time they would be assigned public defenders.
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