Dad brings assault rifle, 9-month-old son with signs of neglect into fast food restaurant; where is the baby's mother? (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Daddy remembers to bring his assault rifle, but can't remember to change the baby's diaper or, god forbid, feed him.

Dad is identified as COLIN DECKER.

Notice that the baby is now in CPS care. What happened to the mother of this child?

http://www.abqjournal.com/435904/abqnewsseeker/men-arrested-after-bringing-assault-rifle-infant-to-late-night-fast-food-restaurant.html

Men arrested after bringing assault rifle, infant to fast food restaurant

ABQnews Seeker By Patrick Lohmann / Journal Staff Writer

UPDATED: Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 3:42 pm

PUBLISHED: Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 12:35 pm

Albuquerque police have arrested two men for allegedly endangering an infant as they traveled in their Mustang convertible to a fast food joint armed with an assault rifle, all while carrying an 8-month-old boy who police said appeared to have been neglected.

Officers in Northeast Albuquerque were sent to a Jack in the Box on the 5000 block of Montgomery around 5 a.m. Saturday morning to question two men, who appeared to be drunk, as they tried to order food at the drive through, according to Albuquerque police. The store’s manager called police to report that the driver had an assault rifle on his lap and that his passenger was holding the infant.

The infant had an “extremely soiled diaper” and a T-shirt too small for the weather, said APD spokesman Simon Drobik. The boy’s father said he could not remember the last time the baby had been fed.

“Hollywood couldn’t come up with this story,” Drobik said. “What it really comes down to is the safety of the child.”

The father, 27-year-old Colin Decker, and driver, 28-year-old Mark Richard Cropper, were arrested on a charge of child endangerment, police said. Officers found a black handgun in the passenger seat and two other guns in their search of the vehicle, Drobik said.

Drobik said the two men were very confrontational with police, including one who refused to provide his address, and it’s unclear why the men brought the guns. Neither appears to have much of a criminal history, according to online state court records.

As officers were at the scene, they pooled their money to pay for food, formula, clothing and diapers for the child, Drobik said, before taking him to the police substation for a diaper change and a meal. The state Children, Youth and Families Department then took custody of the child, Drobik said.

“They’re (the officers) all parents, and the parental instincts kicked in,” he said.

Cropper and Decker are being held at the county jail on $15,000 cash or surety bonds. They’re both facing charges relating to child abuse.