Authorities find missing infant after search

HOUSTON The search began shortly after a Galveston County Precinct 8 deputy arrested the baby's mother, 26-year-old Micah Ashley Alford, as she was filling out an application for a dancer's position at a gentleman's club in the 10000 block of the Gulf Freeway.

Authorities knew Alford had just given birth to a baby, so they wanted to make sure the newborn was OK. However, Alford was being uncooperative with them, and after investigators confirmed the baby wasn't with the father, they launched a multi-agency search for the infant, who was believed to be in the Pasadena area.

Eventually, a woman, whom Alford knew on a first-name-only basis, contacted authorities and told them she had the child. She and another woman then agreed to meet officials in the parking lot of a sports store in the 10000 block of the Gulf Freeway to hand over the infant.

The baby was taken in authorities' custody and was being checked out by paramedics, though he appeared to be healthy.

Child Protective Services also is now looking into the welfare of this child to determine if there has been any kind of abuse or neglect. The agency says it has already taken away custody of Alford's three other children.

Alfred was wanted on alleged parole violations. Her criminal history includes charges of abandoning/endangering a child and driving while intoxicated. She is currently in custody with Houston police, facing six charges.