Dad beats 20-month-old daughter over potty training (Austin, Texas)

Dad is identified as BRYANT KEITH DAVIS.

http://kxan.com/2015/07/21/man-arrested-for-alleged-severe-abuse-of-20-month-child/

Austin dad allegedly beat toddler, pulled tooth over potty issues

By Dave Byknish Published: July 21, 2015, 10:00 pm | Updated: July 22, 2015, 12:36 pm

AUSTIN (KXAN) — U.S. Marshals took 27-year-old Bryant Keith Davis into custody Tuesday after his 20-month-old girl needed to be revived following cardiac arrest related to severe bodily injury.

On July 9 around 3:15 p.m. Austin-Travis County EMS was called to an apartment at 8907 Tronewood Drive for a child having a seizure. EMS transported the child to Dell Children’s Medical Center, where she went into cardiac arrest.

The child was found in a severe state — with 16 rib fractures, liver and spleen lacerations, a possible collapsed lung, facial bruising and a brain bleed, according to an official Austin Police Department warrant.

Davis initially told investigators he did not know how the child got hurt. He claimed that while watching the child on July 7, he heard a child fall while playing on an outdoor play set; he said when he went to look, the victim’s step-sibling was helping brush dirt off her. He also said she had minor injuries at that point. He told investigators over the next couple days he saw the girl’s condition getting worse, including breathing problems. And he called 911 two days after the initial incident Davis outlined.

Austin police investigators had Davis participate in a re-enactment of his reported incident on Sunday. During the re-enactment, police say Davis explained the girl had gone to the bathroom on the living room floor on July 9. He demonstrated on a doll that he hit the girl in the rib area and then put her over his knee to spank her, according to investigators. He then reportedly yelled at her to use the toilet.

According to the warrant, Davis “forcefully took the victim to the restroom and told her to use the restroom while he cleaned up the waste from the living room.” When he eventually walked by the bathroom, police say he noticed the girl was standing in the bowl of the toilet. He demonstrated that he picked her up and forcefully slammed her onto the toilet seat, which caused her to hit her head on the toilet lid, according to police. He told them he then took her back to the living room to continue “teaching her a lesson” and slapped her on the back of the head.

Later in the day, when the child was having breathing problems, Davis said he administered a breathing treatment and that during that treatment the child had a seizure, according to investigators. Davis said he pulled the mouthpiece out of her clenched mouth, which removed a front tooth.

However, two doctors at Dell Children’s Medical Center said the toddler’s wounds are consistent with physical abuse, and she remains hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Davis has been charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury — a first-degree felony. He is currently booked into the Travis County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Child Protective Services says they are also investigating the case and has since removed the victim’s 3-year-old sibling from the home. The agency said there were no prior history with the Davis family.

Davis’ Criminal History

•2005 – Aggravated Robbery (Houston), pleaded guilty, served 2 years in jail
•2014 – Assault w/ Bodily Injury of Family Member (Austin), pleaded guilty, served 100 days in jail
•2013 – Manufacturing / Delivery of Controlled Substance (Houston), pleaded guilty, served 10 months in jail
•2011 – Possession of Controlled Substance (Houston), pleaded guilty, served 4 months in jail
•2010 – Assault w/ Bodily Injury (Houston), pleaded guilty, served 50 days in jail
•2010 – Possession of Controlled Substance (Houston), pleaded guilty, served 6 months in jail