Baby’s injuries like ‘being scalped without a knife.’ Mom’s boyfriend charged in assault

A 10-month-old boy had injuries that could kill a child — including one that was like “being scalped without a knife” — and authorities believe his mother’s boyfriend is to blame.

The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with second-degree child assault. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered the man not to go near his girlfriend, her son or their Tacoma apartment.

According to charging papers, the mother took her son to a doctor July 24 after noticing bruising and swelling on his forehead and a bite mark on his arm. Doctors also noted scrapes on his back, a bruised ear and an injury to his scalp.

The doctors believed the scalp wound was caused by blunt force trauma or severe pulling of the baby’s hair, which they described as “being scalped without a knife,” according to charging papers. That type of injury can kill children, medical staff told sheriff’s deputies.

Investigators determined the boy was left alone with the boyfriend on the days he was injured..

The mother said her boyfriend had lectured her about coddling her son because it was “ruining all of his training.” He said and would lock the boy in a room if he cried because the baby “doesn’t deserve to be around people if he cries,” records show.

The boyfriend admitted that the teeth marks on the boy’s arm looked like his, but denied hurting the baby.

This story was originally published August 2, 2018 at 10:39 AM.