HILL AIR FORCE BASE — A 27-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Hill Air Force Base after authorities say he left a 6-month-old baby unattended on a curb near a base roadway, as Gephardt Daily reported.
Siliato Tavale was taken into custody by law enforcement officers at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday for investigation of child abandonment, which is classified as a third-degree felony under Utah state law. Tavale is listed as the infant's legal guardian in official arrest documents.
According to an arrest affidavit filed in the case, a deputy with the Davis County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to respond to the incident after receiving a report regarding the abandoned child. The deputy arrived at the scene to meet with the infant's mother, who had already safely retrieved the 6-month-old baby from a curb located near the intersection of Wardleigh Road and F Avenue on the military installation.
The mother recounted the sequence of events to the responding Davis County Sheriff's deputy, explaining that Tavale, whom she identified as her husband, had initially reached out to her via text message. In those messages, Tavale informed the mother that he intended to drop off the child at that location.
Following the text message exchange, Tavale allegedly sent a photograph to the mother showing the 6-month-old baby sitting alone on the curb. Along with the image, he told the mother to go to the location and grab the infant. The mother further reported to the investigating deputy that Tavale had recorded a video clip of himself driving away from the scene after leaving the infant behind on the curb.
After being taken into custody by law enforcement, Tavale was advised of his legal rights under Miranda. During the subsequent interview with officers, Tavale admitted to leaving the child at the curb near Wardleigh Road and F Avenue. He stated to investigating officers that he remained in the general vicinity of the intersection until he visually confirmed that the mother had arrived and picked up the baby.
Following his arrest at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Tavale was booked for investigation of third-degree felony child abandonment. Official filings document Tavale's status as the legal guardian of the 6-month-old infant involved in the incident on the base.
Wardleigh Road serves as a primary thoroughfare running through Hill Air Force Base, connecting various facility sectors and operational areas across the military installation. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains under the purview of local law enforcement and military personnel involved in public safety across Davis County and Northern Utah.
As of Tuesday evening, law enforcement authorities had not released further details regarding court appearances or formal charging documents beyond the initial arrest documentation.
