Baltimore County officer suspended after arrested for alleged child abuse in Harford County
BALTIMORE - A Baltimore County police officer has been suspended after he and his wife were charged with the physical abuse of their infant son, charging documents reveal.
Investigators with the Harford County Sheriff's Office opened a case in May on the Bel Air couple after staff with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center discovered "concerning injuries" on the then two-month-old victim, the report states.
Medical staff reportedly found injuries consistent with more than one "non-accidental traumatic event" including brain cysts, hemorrhages in both eyes and the brain and skeletal fractures, which could be attributed to shaking, the document states.
However, the infant had several hospital visits prior to being transported to UMMC, investigators found.
During an interview with the sheriff's office, the victim's mother explained they initially took their son to an area hospital in late April after believing she passed on an illness to the baby, court documents explained.
The hospital staff reportedly advised the family to use a saline solution at home for the illness. Days later in May, the mother explained to investigators that the victim began to choke following treatment and that she "slapped" her son's back "vigorously" to dislodge what may have stopped him from breathing.
The wife also allegedly stated to the sheriff's office that her husband deployed "back-blows, chest compressions and rescue breaths" to their son until he "came to."
Investigators said neither parent immediately called for emergency services after the baby regained consciousness on May 1.
However, later that day, the baby was taken to an area hospital where the mother allegedly informed hospital staff about the life-saving measures taken to help their choking son, and the bruises sustained thereafter.
However, medical staff did not cite any visible injuries or reference the parent's account of giving the child CPR, according to the charging documents.
Two days later, the child was taken to a different area hospital after seizure-like episodes began, the mother allegedly told the sheriff's office.
After the hospital's diagnosis of acid reflux, the parents are accused of leaving the facility citing not being taken seriously by either hospital.
The victim's parents allegedly told investigators that over the next eleven days, their son did not exhibit any of the concerning symptoms, which had included arching his back and seizing, until May 15.
The infant had been taken to an area hospital but was then transported to UMMC after staff feared the victim suffered from meningitis, hyperthermia and suspected seizures, documents laid out.
Once at UMMC, medical staff began to investigate where old and new signs of trauma to the brain, as well as other injuries, had been located, charging documents explain.
Genetic testing was also conducted to rule out congenital defects that could have been attributed to the injuries.
During the investigation, the baby has been placed in the care of a grandmother.
The Baltimore County Police officer of six years was suspended without pay, a spokesperson with the agency confirmed.
The couple was granted at-home detention and is expected to make a preliminary hearing on July 26 for child abuse, assault and neglect.
