PR: Anchorage Man Arrested For ‘Shaken Baby’ Assault

[icewater]

March 3, 2007

Contact: Paul Honeman


Anchorage Man Arrested for ‘Shaken Baby’ Assault

At about 3:10 PM on Friday – March 2nd 2007 – Anchorage Police Patrol officers responded to the 300 block of West 33rd Avenue to the reports of a ‘Baby not Breathing’.

Responding officers located a 7 ½ month old baby who appeared to be having respiratory distress that was not easily explained.

The baby was transported by Anchorage Fire Department Paramedics to a local hospital for emergency treatment. The child is listed in critical condition.

Detectives from the Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) responded to investigate this incident.

As a result of the initial investigation and interviews, Detectives have arrested the baby’s father, identified as Christian Abas – age 20 – of Anchorage.

Abas was charged with Assault in the First Degree and was remanded to the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $75,000.00 cash only. A Court Approved Third Party Custodian is also required.

Abas will be arraigned at the Anchorage Jail Court on Saturday, March 3rd 2007 at 1:30 PM.

Note- It takes very little force while shaking a young infant or child to cause serious injury. The consequences of such actions can be lifelong permanent disability and/or death. There are many resources available in the Anchorage area for those persons who need assistance with young children and parenting skills. If you or someone you know appears to need assistance, you can call the Office of Children’s Services (State of AK), the Municipal SAFE City Program and/or The Center for Men and Women. Citizens who believe that any person is in harms way are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agency.



http://www.muni.org/apd2/_pressreleases.cfm

[AmyW]

Ugh... if you're that angry, walk away. Don't shake a baby, period.

I feel that I can say this safely as the mother of an almost-three year old child. I know how frustrating babies can be, but I would never do something like this.