Friday, November 29, 2013

Dad charged with "intentionally" dropping 2-month-old daughter; baby in critical condition (Tucson, Arizona)

Not much detail here on the family arrangement here. The baby was "in the care and custody of her father"--just what does that mean exactly? That he was babysitting while Mom ran to the grocery store? That this was court-ordered visitation time? That Dad had legal custody of the child? What?

Dad is identified as ANTHONY ESPARZA.

http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/police-beat/father-intentionally-dropped-infant-daughter-police-say/article_d903746a-9ca5-5563-8a9b-bd1358a40490.html

Tucson father faces child abuse; 'intentionally' dropped infant daughter, police say

November 27, 2013 7:30 pm • Carmen Duarte Arizona Daily Star

An 18-year-old man was arrested and is facing child abuse after he "intentionally" dropped his infant daughter, police said.

Anthony Esparza was booked into the Pima County jail for one count of child abuse, said Sgt. Chris Widmer, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

The 2-month-old girl is in critical condition at University of Arizona Medical Center-Main Campus, he said.

On Tuesday at 1:38 a.m., officers responded to University of Arizona Medical Center-South Campus for a report of an infant who had been brought in with life-threatening injuries, Widmer said.

The baby was brought to the hospital by her parents, and was transferred to the medical center's main campus because of the "serious nature of the injuries," Widmer said.

Detectives from the dependent child unit began an investigation and it was determined that the child was in the care and custody of Esparza at the time of the incident, he said.

It was "revealed that the baby was intentionally dropped by the father, causing serious head trauma," Widmer said.