Child abuse case centers on downtown hotel

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police investigated a case of possible child abuse at a downtown Indianapolis hotel Tuesday morning.

Medical personnel called Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after a 9-year-old was brought to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. 

The boy's mother told investigators the family was staying at the JW Marriott when he suffered a head injury.

Investigators were at the hotel through the morning hours, collecting evidence. By mid-morning, however, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Mike Hewitt said no criminal charges had been filed, and the child's injuries were the result of an accident.

Three children - ages 9, 6 and 5 - were staying with their parents, traveling roofers from Michigan, at the hotel and were playing in the shower when the 9-year-old hit his head, investigators said. The cut on his head required a few stitches, but because the mother appeared intoxicated and was belligerent with emergency medical personnel, police were called to investigate, Hewitt said.

There was some question over why the children were in their mother's care, however, as there was a court order out of Michigan banning that. The Indiana Department of Child Services had contacted their counterparts in Michigan, Hewitt said, and the children were to be given over to their custody. Any possible charges regarding that, however, would be up to Michigan authorities.