Dad arrested in beating of 3-month-old baby (Plainfield, New Jersey)

Dad is identified as MICHAEL BELL JR.

http://scotchplains.patch.com/articles/ucpo-plainfield-father-arrested-for-allegedly-beating-his-3-month-old-child

UCPO: Plainfield Father Arrested for Allegedly Beating His 3-Month-Old Child

The infant that Michael Bell Jr., 34, is accused of attacking remains in grave condition at Robert Wood University Hospital.

1:00 am The following press releases were received from the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Update, May 11

Michael Bell Jr. , 34, was arrested Saturday night in Newark while attempting to flee the state via bus, announced Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow. The Union County Homicide Task Force, New Jersey Transit Police Department, and the Amtrak Police Department arrested Bell near Penn Station following a cooperative effort.

Bell was transported to the Union County Jail and ordered held without bail by Superior Court Judge Robert Mega.

The infant that Bell is accused of attacking remains in grave condition at Robert Wood University Hospital. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Original Release, May 10

The Union County Homicide Task Force and the Plainfield Police Division are actively searching for a man wanted in connection with the severe beating of an infant.

Police were called to a house on the 200 block of Lee Place in Plainfield around 10:35 p.m. Friday. There, they discovered an injured 3-month-old child who was immediately transferred to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, said Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow. Doctors later determined that the child, now listed in grave condition, was suffering from fractures and internal bleeding.

Authorities have charged the child’s father, 34-year-old Michael Bell with 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault. Bell fled the house after allegedly assaulting the child, and police are actively searching for him, said Romankow. Additional charges against Bell are expected to be filed in due course.

Anyone with information that leads to the arrest of Michael Bell is eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 from Union County Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips can be called into (908) 654-TIPS or registered at www.uctip.org.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.