Cops: Man tries to trade baby for beer

Matthew Brace, 24, charged with child endangerment

Updated: Tuesday, 18 May 2010, 1:46 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 18 May 2010, 7:54 AM EDT

Jennifer Colby and Laura Hutchinson

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A father was allegedly caught trying to trade his infant baby for beer at a Chicopee gas station on Monday.

The incident occurred at the Pride Station on Burnett Road in Chicopee around 1 p.m. Monday.

Chicopee Police Sgt. Christopher Lareau told 22News that 24-year-old Matthew Brace of Northampton allegedly offered his 3-month-old daughter to a maintenance man working outside in exchange for two 40-ounce beers.

The infant's mother, 31-year-old Wendy Arsenault, was inside the Pride store at the time.

Brace allegedly put the baby and a stroller in the worker's truck and said: "For two 40s, you can have her." The worker then called police.

Officers later found the couple at the nearby Econo Lodge, where the had been living on public assistance.

Chicopee Police Chief John Ferraro Jr. told 22News he is unsure if Brace was trying to exchange the baby for beers or for crack cocaine.

Brace was not arrested, but he was summoned to court on charges of reckless endangerment of a child. Sgt. Lareau said Arsenault was not involved in the crime.

22News spoke with Arsenault over the phone Tuesday morning. She said she had no idea what was going on because she was inside the store and that she would never put her baby in harm's way.

The infant girl is now in the state's custody.

Brace was scheduled to be arraigned in Chicopee District Court on Tuesday, but his court appearance has been postponed because he is in the hospital. Police refused to comment on why Brace was hospitalized.

LINK TO PHOTO:

http://www.wane.com/dpps/news/strange/cops-say-man-tries-to-trade-baby-for-beer-jgr_3365212