Lafayette man accused of critically injuring baby

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A man was sitting in jail Monday with battery charges after police say he hit his 17-day-old baby in the head.

West Lafayette police say the department investigated a report of battery involving serious bodily injury to an infant at 2 p.m. Sunday.

WLPD Lt. Troy Harris says when officers arrived on the scene, they found a baby covered in bruises.

Harris says the baby was immediately taken to an area hospital, but its injuries were so severe it had to be transported to an Indianapolis hospital. The baby was still in critical condition Monday afternoon.

When officers on the scene interviewed the baby's father, 18-year-old Brendan Bell of Lafayette, they say he admitted to hitting the baby.

"What he explained was, the baby was crying," Harris said. "The baby was fussy, and he lost his temper and struck the baby. He was remorseful; he was sad. Obviously, he wished it hadn't happened."

Bell was arrested and booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail overnight, facing preliminary charges of battery and neglect, which are both felonies.

His bond was set at $2,500.