Mom accused of leaving baby alone near creek while intoxicated

ARLINGTON, TX -- A Texas mom is under arrest after her 9-month-old baby was found face-down near an Arlington creek.

The baby has scratches and bug bites from hours alone in tall grass, but a relative of the woman who allegedly left the boy says it could have been a lot worse and is shocked by what happened.

However, the woman who didn't want to identify herself to station KTVT, said the baby's mother loves her children and is a "great mom."

She said, "Despite everything. She loves her children. With her whole being."

Arlington police say Amanda Smith startled a family here Sunday evening, stumbling into their home intoxicated and carrying her other 2-year-old son.

Officer Nicole Newton says when she arrived, Smith tried to run. She said, "She's holding the baby in her left arm. She's grabbing ahold of the fence. And putting her legs through the fence trying to climb the fence."

Newtown was able to pry the 2-year-old away from Smith. "It was very heartbreaking," she said. "He was crying. He was very visibly upset."

With Smith under arrest, police called Child Protective Services who reached out to family.

The relative said, "It was asked, where's the 9-month-old? They didn't even know the 9-month-old was missing."

Police and firefighters searched the area and found the boy close to this creek swollen by rain.

Newton said, "It's a miracle. It's a miracle we were able to locate that baby, and that the baby was OK, and alive."