A man has been booked into Sacramento County jail on suspicion of child abuse in the injury of his infant nephew.
Wendell James Taghap, 36, is being held on $1 million bail. His five-month-old nephew is in critical condition.
Officers were called to a hospital at 8:44 p.m. Wednesday on a report of possible abuse to the child. Medical personnel told officers that the baby boy's injuries were suspicious and could be the result of "abuse by physical trauma," according to a Sacramento police press release.
Officers learned that earlier in the day the child's mother had returned to her home in the 2600 block of Truxel Road in Natomas. The baby had been in the care of Taghap while she at work.
The mother looked in on her child and the baby appeared to be napping. After a period of "some time" the mother re-checked her baby.
She found that he would not respond and needed medical help. The mother call 911 at once.
Due to the hospital personnel suspicions, homicide detectives and crime scene investigators were called out to assist in an investigation.
Taghap was arrested on Thursday based on several factors: the medical examination and treatment, a previous report of possible neglect/abuse and statements obtained during the investigation.
He was booked into jail on suspicion of endangering the life or health of a child.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.