Charles told investigators he recently got a job and the baby's crying was making him lose sleep.The 4-week-old may die after his father, frustrated over the baby's crying, threw him against a couch, then the boy landed on the floor
The child suffered eight fractured ribs, detachment and bleeding of his retinas, multiple skull fractures and bleeding from the brain. He also had a fractured right arm and right leg, the police arrest report states.
ORANGE CITY -- A 4-week-old may die after his father, frustrated over the baby's crying, threw him against a couch, then the boy landed on the floor, authorities say.
Ivan Charles, 23, was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect, a charging affidavit showed.
Charles told investigators he recently got a job and the baby's crying was making him lose sleep.
The child suffered eight fractured ribs, detachment and bleeding of his retinas, multiple skull fractures and bleeding from the brain. He also had a fractured right arm and right leg, the police arrest report states.
Charles was held in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bail.
Police were alerted to the baby's injuries by officials from Florida Hospital Fish Memorial on Sunday, according to a statement released by Orange City spokeswoman Danielle Lung.
Doctors kept finding more injuries on the baby during daily scans and said the infant would have severe brain damage if he survives, investigators said.
On Tuesday, the child was on a ventilator at Florida Hospital South, Orlando, and a Child Protection Team and the Florida Department of Children & Families have taken custody of him, Lung said.
Charles initially denied knowing how the infant was injured, saying his girlfriend, the baby's mother, Naisha Viscaino Adames, may have dropped the child, police said.
Adames told police the infant was only in her care and that of Charles but noticed the child starting to twitch Saturday, investigators said.
Adames allowed police to search her home and officers found a bloodstain on the baby's tiny pillow, reports said.
On Monday, Orange City police made contact with Charles again and that was when he confessed to the crime, reports state.
Charles said he had not been getting much sleep because the infant kept him awake. On Friday while Adames was out running errands, he held the baby around his body and shook him for five to seven seconds, the report said. He then threw the baby, striking the couch, then the child fell to the floor, investigators said.
Charles held the detective's clipboard to show how he shook and threw down his son, investigators said.
Charles noticed the baby became lethargic, had decreased alertness, loss of strength and coordination and started convulsing, police said.
Charles did not seek immediate medical attention for the infant until five hours later, police said.
Charles pleaded no contest to battery domestic violence in July 2010 and was sentenced to a year probation. His adjudication was withheld.
