Dad charged with 2nd-degree assault, 1st-degree criminal mistreatment in abuse of 9-week-old daughter; baby in critical condition (Medford, Oregon)

Dad TYLER ALEXANDER JACKSON has been charged with 2nd-degree assault and 1st-degree criminal mistreatment in the abuse of his 9-week-old daughter. Dad was alone with the baby when she "sustained her injuries" which were consistent with being grabbed and shaken. She became unconscious and developed breathing problems, and is now hospitalized in critical condition with head and internal injuries.

By the way, don't you love the vague way this is worded? Person X is alone with Person Y when Person Y "sustained their injuries." Oh, and Person Y is an infant who can barely move on her own. Golly, seems pretty clear Person X was the causative agent, don't you think? Unless this is another case of "black guys" in "ski masks" breaking into the house, with the sole intent of assaulting a poor white baby. In other words, the usual bullsh** cover story these dads come up with when cornered.

And please, I really don't want to hear from the doggie lovers, but why the hell would you have two pit bulls in a home with a newborn?

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100210/NEWS/2100314

Critically injured Medford infant is sent to Portland

The child's father is charged with second-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment

February 10, 2010

By Sanne Specht
Mail Tribune

A Medford baby is in critical condition in a Portland hospital and her teenage father is in Jackson County Jail, suspected of causing her injuries.

Tyler Alexander Jackson, 18, was arrested Monday on charges of second-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment hours after emergency help was requested for a 9-week-old infant who had stopped breathing.
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Things you to know and do
Did you know: An estimated 1,200 to 1,400 children are injured or killed by shaking every year in the United States and the numbers of shaken baby incidents remain high in the Rogue Valley. Infants are at highest risk for shaking at 10 to 12 weeks of age, at about the time when crying reaches its peak, said Dr. Kerri Hecox, medical director for the Children's Advocacy Center.

What you can do: Understand that crying is normal developmental stage for infants and it will pass. Recognize when you are being frustrated by crying and know it is OK to set the baby down and walk away. Be sympathetic when parents express fatigue or frustration with their child's crying. Offer to assist with respite child care or help reduce stress for them by cooking meals or providing other support.
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The 9-1-1 call for help came from a home in the 400 block of Marie Street at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday, said Medford police Lt. Bob Hansen.

Hansen said police were first to arrive at the home and focused on getting the child medical attention. But as they approached the house, two pit bulls came at them.

One officer distracted the family's dogs, allowing the other officer to run into the home, grab the baby girl from Jackson's arms and race to a waiting ambulance, said Hansen.

"We call that a 'scoop and run,' " said Hansen, adding that the move is standard police procedure designed to get an unconscious child medical attention as quickly as possible.

The baby girl, Adriana Jackson, was rushed to the waiting ambulance and was breathing when she was transported to Rogue Valley Medical Center, said Hansen.

"The police officer grabbed the child from the father," he said. "And as he is running to the ambulance, the child started breathing on her own."

Later that morning, the infant was flown to Doernbecher's Children's Hospital in Portland, where she was being treated for head and internal injuries.

"She is still in critical condition (Tuesday)," said Hansen.

Detectives returned to the residence and questioned Jackson, the child's 18-year-old mother and the grandmother. Police determined Jackson was alone with his daughter at the time she sustained her injuries, which were consistent with a baby being grabbed and shaken, Hansen said.

"People forget how very fragile a baby is," Hansen said, adding the father was upset about his child's condition and cooperative with police.

"We all receive instruction in how to properly drive a car," said Hansen. "But nobody requires classes before you have a baby. It's very easy for frustration to turn to aggression. If you start getting frustrated, step away."

Between 1,200 and 1,400 infants are injured or die by shaking each year in the United States. Locally, the numbers of shaken baby syndrome cases remain high, said Dr. Kerri Hecox of the Children's Advocacy Center.

To reduce the abuse, Rogue Valley hospitals and community agencies have recently launched a new initiative, the "Period of Purple Crying" program. A 10-minute DVD is being shown to mothers of newborns at all three hospitals in Jackson County, explaining normal infant crying, offering ways to reduce stress related to the crying, and informing parents and caregivers of the dangers of shaking an infant.

It was unknown if Jackson or his wife had watched the instructional DVD, Hecox said.