Medical staff reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that multiple fractures and bruising were observed on the child.
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — A West Valley father was arrested Sunday on suspicion of seriously injuring his 3-month-old child.
Nicholas Perkins, 24, was taken into custody by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly admitted to “forcibly shaking the baby,” according to court records.
MCSO deputies were dispatched to a residence in Valley on Jan. 5 and found the infant unresponsive. Medical staff advised MCSO that multiple fractures and contusions were observed on the child.
According to court records, the baby was in “critical condition” and on life support at the time of the suspect’s arrest. Court records also allege that if the infant was seriously injured, there was a real chance that it might not survive.
Perkins was identified in court records as the infant’s father. When detectives questioned Perkins about the situation, he denied any abuse, according to the documents. He reportedly claimed that he slipped while carrying the baby up the stairs and that the baby hit her neck on one of the steps. When MCSO pressed him on the claim, he reportedly admitted to forcibly shaking the baby. Perkins “became irritated with the baby as she remembered the baby crying and losing control,” the report said.
Detectives said in the report that Perkins demonstrated how he allegedly shook the baby.
Perkins was charged with child abuse and was given $350,000 cash-only bail at his first court appearance.
Court records allege the baby has other severe fractures that are healing. Alleges abuse in the past. When questioned about the incident, Perkins denied the charges and said the baby fell out of bed in late November and hurt her leg, according to court records.
Claire Rouge is Preventing Child Abuse in Arizona Approximately 300 infants die each year in the United States from head injuries caused by abuse or shaken baby syndrome, he said.
“An infant’s crying can be very stressful, and a momentary loss of control can lead to a tragedy like this,” Rouge said.
Encourage parents who are experiencing this stress to safely place their baby in their crib and take a few minutes to decompress themselves.
“Too many babies died from abusive head trauma. Not one baby died crying,” Rouge said.
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