He wanted to make a viral video, according to a report.

SARASOTA -- A Florida man entered a pawn shop with his baby this week and tried to pawn it; he said it was a prank, the Sarasota Police Department reports.

Officers were alerted Tuesday afternoon after a pawn shop clerk reported a suspicious man who entered the store in the 1100 block of North Washington Boulevard at about 5:30 and asked several times if he could pawn his baby.

After police began a search for the child to make sure it was safe and notified the media, the 43-year-old man contacted police and said it was a prank. He wanted to put the video on social media. Detectives verified the child was safe and alerted the Florida Department of Children and Families.

No charges have been filed against the man at this time.