Baby "allegedly" hurled across living room by dad readmitted into hospital (Kelso, Washington)

Dad SCOTT DANIEL SPARKS is charged with 1st-degree assault (domestic violence) for "allegedly" hurling his infant son across the family living room--twice. The baby appears to have lingering problems related to his injuries, which included fractured ribs, torn brain tissue, a broken leg, and hemorrhaging in the eyes.

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_21abe6d2-4c55-11e0-ada6-001cc4c03286.html

Injured baby readmitted to hospital due to complications
By Tony Lystra / The Daily News The Daily News Online
Posted: Friday, March 11, 2011 8:15 pm

A baby critically injured after he was allegedly hurled across his family's living room twice by his father has been readmitted to the hospital, authorities said Friday.

The four-month-old boy appears to be suffering complications from his earlier injuries, police and child protection officials said. There is no indication that he has been recently abused, said Kelso Police Captain Darr Kirk.

The boy was admitted to St. John Medical Center Thursday, then taken to another undisclosed hospital.

"This is a residual effect of the original abuse," Kirk said.

Children's Administration spokeswoman Sherry Hill also said the baby's latest ailments are "likely based on the original injuries."

Police said the baby's father, Scott Daniel Sparks, 30, of Kelso shook the baby and threw him across the room twice between Dec. 1 and Jan. 24. In one instance, the baby's body is believed to have struck his 5-year-old brother mid-air.

Sparks is being held in the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of two counts of first-degree assault of a child (domestic violence.)

The baby, who was released from a Portland hospital in February, suffered four fractured ribs, torn brain tissue, a fractured leg bone and hemorrhaging in his eyes, police said.

On Feb. 23, a court commissioner - an attorney appointed to fill in as a temporary judge - placed the baby in the care of his mother, Dusty Childress, who is suspected of trying to cover for her husband.

Childress, according to investigators, tried to dissuade her oldest son, the baby's 5-year-old brother, from telling police about Sparks' alleged abuse. Childress told police the baby's injuries were caused when her 5-year-old son jumped over a couch and landed on the baby's chest, according to a police report.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to charge Childress with witness tampering.

Hill said the baby will probably be placed in foster care while investigators ensure that there has been no new abuse.

"We have to continue to assure for the baby's safety," she said.