North Suburban Man Charged With Beating Infant
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STMW) - A 21-year-old north suburban Park City man was arrested for allegedly beating his 22-day-old infant son.
The baby was brought into the emergency room of the Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital facility in Lake Forest on Christmas Eve around 9 p.m. and was treated for injuries, including red marks and bruising on the child's stomach, chest and back, that medical personnel deemed suspicious.
The baby was transferred to Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, where further examination found the infant had a fracture of the femur in his leg.
"Staff at both hospitals did a superb job in identifying the suspicious injuries and notifying police," said Lake Villa Police Chief Ron Roth.
Juan Pineda of the 500 block of Rosedale Ave., Park City, was charged with one count of aggravated battery with great bodily harm to a child under the age of 13, which is a Class X felony.
After treatment, the infant was released to the Department of Children and Family Services and put in protective custody. The baby had been living with his mother in Lake Villa.
Police investigators worked through the holiday and found the suspect in Vernon Hills on Thursday where he was arrested without incident.
Roth said the officers involved and the DCFS put in a lot of time and effort in the case, which he appreciated.
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