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Trading the Baby for Beer

An infant is in Massachusetts state custody after police say a father attempted to sell his baby girl in exchange for beer. The incident occurred at the Pride Station on Burnett Road in Chicopee just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

Chicopee Police Sgt. Christopher Lareau told 22News, 24-year-old Matthew Brace allegedly offered the 3-month-old girl 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.

The maintenance man called police who found the couple at the nearby Econo Lodge where they are living on public assistance. The infant girl was placed in the state's custody.

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.