Dad arrested for abusing infant; baby in critical condition (Kelso, Washington)

Dad SCOTT DANIEL SPARKS has been arrested on child abuse charges. The baby is in critical condition with abusive head trauma (also known as "shaken baby syndrome").

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_cccfe3d2-2b4f-11e0-98e3-001cc4c03286.html

Kelso father arrested for allegedly abusing child

By Tony Lystra / The Daily News The Daily News Online Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011 7:00 pm

Kelso police arrested a 30-year-old father Friday on suspicion of abusing his infant child, who was in critical condition at a Portland hospital.

Police Chief Andy Hamilton said the child's injuries are potentially life-threatening and consistent with "shaken baby syndrome."

Officers arrested the child's father Scott Daniel Sparks and booked him into jail just before 4 p.m. Friday on suspicion of first-degree assault of a child.

The baby was brought into the Emergency Department at St. John Medical Center on Monday, then transferred to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, police said in a statement.

Officers concluded their investigation Friday.

Hamilton said the child's mother and father live together in Kelso. He said he did not know the age or gender of the infant.

The Daily News' archives show Sparks and his wife had a boy at St. John in October.

"Any time we're investigating a crime against a child where a child's been injured, it's taxing on both the officers and the people involved," Hamilton said. "No one wants to see a child hurt in any way."