A Bethlehem man was arrested on charges of assault for allegedly fracturing the skull and eye socket of his baby son.
Matthew Taylor, 23, of 2528 Garden Court was alone with the infant on both occasions in which the injuries happened, reports the Morning Call.
The first incident was on Aug. 4 when the baby was only 17 days old. Taylor brought the newborn to the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg where he was treated for a broken left eye socket, according to hospital officials.
Taylor told authorities that he dropped a baby monitor on the infant.
The second incident occurred Jan. 2 when the infant was taken to the same emergency room with multiple skull fractures and bruises on his forehead.
In the January injury, Taylor told police two different stories: That he dropped the baby when the infant poked him in the eye, and that the baby was hurt while he was feeding him.
The child’s mother, Erika Taylor, was at work at the time and she told police that Taylor sent her a text message telling her to come home because he wasn’t feeling well. Soon after, he called her and said he dropped the baby, according to police.
Police charged Taylor with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to Northampton County Prison on $200,000 bail.
