Baby left in car at Fred Meyer

WASILLA - A Wasilla man has been charged with reckless abandonment after police say he left a 6-week-old infant in an unlocked car while shoplifting pharmaceuticals from a Fred Meyer retail store.

Wasilla Police report Clifton Register, 23, was arrested by store security after he was observed allegedly stealing about $13 worth of food and pharmaceuticals Monday afternoon. Wasilla Police officer Doug Sonerholm responded and discovered the infant in Register's vehicle.

&#8220Yeah, he's got problems,” Sonerholm said of Register, adding drugs could possibly have played a role in his decision to leave the infant. &#8220But in my way of thinking, that doesn't relieve him of any of his responsibilities.”

Register was allegedly shoplifting cold medicine, Sonerholm said. Some cold medicines are used as an ingredient in methamphetamine manufacturing.

The infant's mother was called to the scene to retrieve the infant, who did not require medical attention, Sonerholm said. &#8220She was very sad about it, but didn't seem surprised. I think she understands the situation with Register.”

The mother's and infant's names were not released. Register could not be reached for comment.

He has been charged with reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor, shoplifting less than $50 of merchandise, a Class B misdemeanor, and criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor. Sonerholm said Register received the trespassing charge because he was banned from entering the Fred Meyer store prior to Monday's incident.

Register was also arrested May 28 for shoplifting at the Tesoro gas station on the corner of the Parks Highway and Main Street. The charges issued against him on Monday are being forwarded to the District Attorney's office.

Sonerholm frequently receives calls reporting children left unsupervised in cars in Wasilla parking lots.

&#8220Typically, a well meaning citizen - typically a parent - will see children left in a car and they will call us,” he said. Often times the child will be old enough to be alone in a car, but about 10 percent of the time that is not the case and charges for reckless endangerment are pressed.

It is not illegal to leave a child in a car in Alaska, Sonerholm said. But if a child is not old enough to be left alone in a vehicle or is otherwise endangered, charges can be filed.

Lt. Craig Robinson, spokesman for Wasilla Police, said repeat arrests are common and noted that misdemeanor offenses like the ones Register was charged with don't normally put people in jail.

&#8220It's a frustration that all law enforcement shares,” Robinson said.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2284 or hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.