Police: Dad smothered, hit, and shook 5-month-old son (Gaffney, South Carolina)

The dad is identified as ERIC SMITH, and he was babysitting while the Mom was forced to work. (Maternity leave? What maternity leave? We don't have no stinkin' maternity leaves in America...that would be (gasp) SOCIALIST!)

So this is what we do in the good ol' USA. We force mothers to work while their babies are young--very often at low wages--and draft the thuggish boyfriends/fathers as free child care providers. This is the predictable result.

http://www.wyff4.com/r/29805002/detail.html

Police: Father Smothered, Hit, And Shook 5-Month-Old
Eric Smith Charged

POSTED: 11:32 am EST November 18, 2011
UPDATED: 8:20 pm EST November 18, 2011

GAFFNEY, S.C. -- A Jonesville father was arrested on Wednesday accused of injuring his 5-month-old.

Eric Smith is charged with inflicting great bodily injury.

According to an arrest warrant, Smith injured a 5-month-old by hitting him with his hands, putting a pillow over his head until he stopped breathing and grabbing, squeezing and shaking him.

The warrant says the incident happened between Nov. 2 and Nov. 16 at a home on North Limestone Street in Gaffney. Deputies say the child was brought by EMS to the Upstate Carolina Medical Center where Smith first told a nurse the child had a seizure.

According to deputies, Smith then told the nurse he had the child propped on a pillow, went to bathroom and when he came back the child was on the floor.

The nurse called deputies, who say they responded and questioned Smith.

According to deputies, Smith said he was sitting on the couch with the baby when the baby kicked and pushed off of him and fell to the floor on his back and hit his head.

The doctor at Upstate Carolina Medical Center said the child’s injuries were questionable and sent the child to Greenville Memorial Hospital and contacted the Department of Social Services.

The child was taken to GHS by ambulance.

Smith told deputies he watched the child while the mother, his girlfriend, was at work.

The mother told deputies she was at work when the incident happened.

Deputies said Smith came to the Sheriff’s Office the day after the child was hospitalized and gave a statement admitting to hitting the child with his hands, putting a pillow over his head until he stopped breathing and grabbing, squeezing and shaking him.

Smith is at the Cherokee County Detention Center.

The child remains in the hospital.