Man charged in baby's skull fracture

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A 21-year-old Sikeston man was arrested Thursday in connection with the injury of a 5-month-old baby reportedly left in his care.

Brandon L. Wheatley also allegedly assaulted a police officer who was taking him into custody in connection with the baby's alleged injury.

According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, the child's mother brought the baby to Missouri Delta Medical Center Thursday with what turned out to be a serious skull fracture. Hospital personnel notified police.

According to police chief Drew Juden, the mother of the baby said she had left the child with Wheatley, her boyfriend.

Wheatley reportedly admitted that the child was injured while in his care but told police nine stories about how it happened. None of those stories, Juden said, was consistent with the child's injuries.

After Wheatley was arrested, police said, he attempted to pull an officer down with him as he was being led down a flight of stairs. The officer maintained his balance and was not injured, nor was Wheatley.

Wheatley was charged with first-degree assault on the child and assault on a police officer. He is in the Scott County Jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.