PR: Infant Death Investigated, Father Arrested

[icewater]

Shreveport Louisiana

Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: February 26, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Infant death investigated, father arrested

Shreveport Police arrested the father of a 3-month-old boy who was found deceased in his crib this morning.

Mantrell Beasley, 24, of Shreveport is charged with cruelty to a juvenile and domestic abuse battery for an incident that reportedly occurred last week during a domestic dispute at the home. An autopsy is underway to determine the baby's cause of death. At this time, the case is being treated as a homicide, but it is not yet known whether foul play is involved.

The baby was found not breathing about 8 a.m. this morning by his mother at the Galilee City Apartments, located in the 1600 block of Park Avenue. The Shreveport Fire Department was called to the scene, but the baby was already deceased.