http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Father-arrested-after-baby-found-with-fractured-skull-ribs-leg-wrist-296928651.html
Father arrested after baby suffers fractured skull, ribs, leg, wrist
The man, identified as Andre J. Ash, 34, was booked into Snohomish County Jail on Wednesday for investigation of second-degree child assault.
The abuse came to light when the little boy's grandmother noticed swelling on the baby's head and the child was taken to Children's Hospital.
Doctors there found that the baby had a large fracture along the whole right side of his skull, 15 fractured ribs, a leg fracture, a wrist fracture and a foot injury. They said the injuries could only have been caused by abuse.
Ash initially denied knowing how the baby could have been injured. Under questioning, he then said he may have accidentally injured the child or that he may have gotten hurt by rolling off the couch.
Eventually, however, Ash told investigators that he had shaken the baby and hit his head against the wall on more than one occasion, according to the police report.
He also told police he had squeezed the baby hard to maintain his grip on the child while shaking him, and this may have caused the rib fractures. And on another occasion he said he lost his grip on the baby and grabbed him by his leg, which could have caused the leg injury, the police report says.
He told investigators he was sorry for what he had done, and wanted to tell his son, "I am sorry, and I love him."
The baby was placed in protective custody. Despite his severe injuries, he is expected to make a full recovery because there was no neurological damage and his retinas had not become detached.
Ash was arrested and booked into jail. He is considered a flight risk because he has few community ties and most of his family resides in California, according to police.
