NATCHEZ — Natchez police officers arrested a woman for felony child abuse Monday evening after she attempted to throw her infant into a garbage can.

Joanne Fleming, 18, was taken into custody after she left a house on Eastwood Road screaming, carrying her 1 1/2-month-old baby wrapped in a blanket and attempted to discard it in a trash can in the carport, Natchez Police Department Lt. Craig Godbold said.

Fleming’s mother and sister, along with the sister’s boyfriend, followed her out of the house and tried to take the child away before any harm was done to the baby.

Natchez police officer Tony Godbold, who lives next door, witnessed the scene from his porch. He responded, helped rescue the baby and then took Fleming into custody until officers arrived at the scene.

Lt. Godbold said that the case is under investigation and that the department will evaluate what medical help Fleming might need.

Adams County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene.