Scott City man accused of assaulting infant

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott City man is charged with felony assault on an infant.

Tyler C. Ford, 19, is charged with first-degree assault for allegedly causing serious injury Thursday to a 2-week-old by "tossing [the baby] toward the couch causing the baby to hit the floor instead," according to a felony complaint and probable-cause documents filed by Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd.

Ford is also charged with felony child abuse for the same incident, which allegedly occurred at an apartment in Scott City. The complaint was filed Monday.

The victim was transported to St. Louis Children's Hospital for injuries consistent with blunt trauma, including a fracture in the back of the skull and nearer to the top of the skull, according to the probable-cause statement.

Questioned about the incident by police, Ford reportedly "provided several versions of a story" of how the child was injured, according to court documents. Initially Ford said he fell asleep on the couch with the child in his arms and later woke up and the child was on the floor crying. Also Ford said the injuries may have occurred when he tripped and dropped the child.

Upon further questioning, according to Sgt. Scott Stoelting with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ford admitted he had become frustrated by the child's crying and "tossed the baby towards the couch, but the baby hit the floor instead."

Ford posted a $50,000 bond Monday. He is set to be arraigned on the charges at 10:30 a.m. today.

Pertinent address:

Scott City, MO