ROCKLAND — A Rockland man is accused of leaving a 6-month-old child alone in a house while he fled from police to avoid being arrested.

Jared Larsen, 27, was arrested Dec. 30 and charged by Rockland police with endangering the welfare of a child and violating a protective order.

Larsen appeared in Knox County Unified Court before Judge Susan Sparaco Jan. 2 where his bail was set at $1,000 cash. Although Larsen was granted bail, he remains at the Knox County Jail in Rockland on a probation hold.

According to the affidavit filed in court by Rockland Police Sgt. Scott Redmun, police were alerted about a possible intoxicated driver who had just left a convenience store and gas station Dec. 30. Employees at the store provided police with the driver’s license plate number and they went to a residence. Police then arrested a woman for operating under the influence.

The woman told police that she had a baby inside her residence and the father of the child was also there. Police then saw a man walking near the residence and found footprints in the snow at the back door.

Officers entered the apartment and did not locate the child.

Police learned that Larsen had a protection from abuse order against the woman and was prohibited from having any contact with her.

They followed Larsen’s footprints in the fresh snow and located him on Camden Street in Rockland. Larsen told police that the child was home sleeping in a bassinet and he only went out to get a cup of coffee.

Police went through the apartment again and located the child in an upstairs bedroom. They arrested Larsen and transported him to the Knox County Jail.

A family member was contacted to care for the child. Police also reported the situation to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, according to the affidavit.

Larsen will appear in court again Feb. 13 for a dispositional conference.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com