Everyone knows you can find just about anything you need for a low price at Walmart -- including baby stuff. But an actual baby? That's not usually part of the deal.
Unless you're desperate for cash and not in the best frame of mind.
That's the case in Salinas, California, where police say a couple tried to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 outside the doors of a Walmart store. Now they're facing child endangerment charges.
Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, were arrested Wednesday, hours after Fousek allegedly approached two women outside Walmart and asked if they'd like to purchase his child -- at the bargain price of $25. The women initially thought Fousek was joking, but when he became persistent, they got suspicious and reported it to police, Salinas police spokesman Officer Lalo Villegas said.
"They did an outstanding job and gave our officers good information." Villegas said. "I don't know if they're mothers but they definitely had that instinct to help."
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.
