VALINDA — An 8-month-old boy who died Friday is believed to have drowned after his mother left him and his siblings unattended in a bathtub, authorities said.
The baby was identified Sunday as Jedediah Turner, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Dana Bee said. He was 8 months and 6 days old.
Officials responded to a report of a baby drowning about 8:50 a.m. Friday at a home in the 1500 block of Pass and Covina Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
The unconscious baby was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, authorities said.
“A preliminary investigation revealed the 25-year-old mother was bathing the infant in a bathtub along with his 1-year-old sister and 2-year-old brother,” according to the sheriff’s statement. “The mother left all three siblings unattended in the bathtub for about 10 to 15 minutes. When she returned, she found the 8-month-old face down in the water and not breathing.”
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services officials took the baby’s siblings into protective custody as the investigation continues, officials added. No arrests had been made.
An autopsy to determine the baby’s official cause of death had not yet been carried out, Bee said.
No further information was released. The handling detective could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The case is being investigated by detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, and anyone with information was asked to contact the bureau at 323-890-5500.

VALINDA — Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the death of an 8-month-old baby who drowned Friday.
The incident happened at 8:50 a.m. in the 1500 block of Pass and Covina Road which is in the unincorporated county area.
Deputies said the infant was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.
There were no other details released about the case.

– Ruby Gonzales

VALINDA — Both mother and baby appeared to be okay following a sudden delivery in a restaurant bathroom Tuesday, authorities said.
The mother, described as a 39-year-old local transient, was ultimately cited for misdemeanor child endangerment after she tested positive for drugs while at a hospital, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Strickland said. The baby, whose sex was unavailable, was taken into protective custody by Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services officials
The baby was born just after 3 p.m. in a restroom inside of hamburger restaurant along Amar Road, just west of Echelon Avenue, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies rushed to the scene in response to reports the woman may be trying to abandon or harm the newborn, however those concerns were determined to be unfounded, Strickland said.
“She had the baby in the restroom of the restaurant,” the lieutenant said. “She walked outside the bathroom and asked for help. She waited for us and she waited for paramedics.”
“It was determined there was no ill intent as far as the birth,” Strickland said.

WEST VALINDA — A car driven by an alleged drunken driver uprooted two trees and toppled a utility pole early Saturday, knocking out power to more than 1,300 nearby residents.
An 18-year-old Palm Springs man, whose name was not available Saturday afternoon, suffered minor injuries in the 6 a.m. crash on Sunset Avenue, just north of Amar Road, California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Axt said.
He was northbound when his car veered to the right side of the road, uprooting to trees and shearing a utility pole, the officer said.
Investigating CHP officers determined the man was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him, Axt said.
According to Southern California Edison, of the more than 1,300 customers who were initially without power due to the crash, about 330 remained without service Saturday afternoon. They were expected to have electricity restored by Saturday evening.

WEST VALINDA — Three men spotted lighting illegal fireworks in the street late Wednesday led deputies to discover about 3,000 pounds of the stuff inside a nearby garage, authorities said.
Deputies patrolling about 8:30 p.m. spotted three men lighting fireworks in the street in the 1400 block of Sandia Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Gutierrez said in a written statement. The three men were arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks.
“After further investigation, (deputies) saw an open residential garage which contained what they believe to be numerous boxes of illegal fireworks,” Gutierrez said. Officials then obtained a search warrant.
“As a result of the search warrant, approximately 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were seized,” the sergeant said.
Investigators withheld the suspect’s names Thursday, citing an active investigation.
The fireworks were turned over to Los Angeles County firefighters for disposal.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department