Rozenna Luna arrested in Phoenix after trying to give away baby

A MOTHER has been arrested for allegedly trying to give away her baby daughter at a convenience store, saying she was a "free child".

A MOTHER has been arrested after allegedly trying to give away her baby daughter.

Rozenna Luna, 36, has been held in custody after police officers were called to a convenience store in Phoenix, Arizona, after a woman called to say she could not care for her child anymore.

Phoenix police spokesman Tommy Thompson said when officers arrived, witnesses said Luna was offering strangers her six-month-old girl, Elena, as a "free child", ABC15 reported.

Thompson said Luna had called police but only after trying to give her baby away. She had not contacted family members or government agencies for help. A store worker had also called police.

When they arrived Luna was intoxicated and had smoked methamphetamine two days earlier. Thompson said.

Luna told police officers she had rang as she had misdemeanor warrants for arrest outstanding and would be arrested and be put in jail, which meant she would not have to care for the baby Elena.

Luna was charged with one count of child abuse, together with the misdemeanor warrants.

The child was put into the care of Child Protective Services but Elena's father Enrique Luna told CBS 5 that he wanted to take care of her.

"I got three kids with me and I want her back, you know, no matter what. I want that, I want her back," Mr Luna told CBS 5.