SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 14, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake City man was arrested after neighbors allegedly heard him beating his 2-year-old son and called police.
A probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake City said Bryan Kent Williams, 32, is facing a charge of child abuse — inflict serious physical injury intentionally, a second-degree felony.
The arresting officer wrote in the probable cause statement that officers received a call for service reporting that some neighbors were hearing a resident of West Kimberly Circle beating his 2-year-old son Aug. 11.
“I arrived on scene and made contact with the A/P, Bryan Williams, and his 2-year-old son,” the arresting officer wrote. “I noticed that Bryan’s son had obvious swelling and redness to the left side of his face and eye. I also noticed what appeared to be scratch marks on his left side of his face.”
Officers removed the child from the apartment for medical personnel to treat him.
Williams was transported to the police station and read his Miranda rights; he agreed to talk to officials.
“I asked Bryan what had happened and he initially lied saying that he grabbed a towel that was on the ground but his son was standing on it so he slipped, hitting his head on the ground,” the statement said. “I told Bryan that the child’s injuries are more severe than that.”
Williams then confessed to hitting the child three times in his face with an open hand, the statement said. Williams’ son was transported to an area hospital and was examined by doctors. The child’s injuries include a black left eye; swollen lip; large amounts of petechiae, which are circular patches due to bleeding under the skin, on the left side of his neck; petechiae on the left side of his face; bruising on the forehead; handprint on his back; handprint on his right arm; handprint on his left thigh; obvious petechiae on both ears; petechiae on his forehead; large amounts of petechiae on the roof of his mouth; and various bruises and marks all over his body.
Williams was transported to Salt Lake County Jail with his bail set at $20,000.
