Kentucky Father Faces Child Abuse Charges After Hospital Incident
A 20-year-old father from Kentucky has been arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse following a disturbing alleged assault on his toddler son at a hospital. Steven Davis is accused of forcing his fingers down the child's throat in an attempt to stop him from crying, according to official documents and police reports.
Alleged Assault at Baptist Health Richmond
The incident reportedly occurred on February 4 at Baptist Health Richmond hospital in Richmond, Kentucky, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Lexington. Davis was at the hospital with his one-year-old son while his fiancée was receiving treatment in the Clinical Decision Unit, a specialized area of the Emergency Department for mental health services.
According to an arrest citation obtained by local media, the child ran out of the room where they were staying. Davis allegedly responded by violently dragging the boy back inside by the arm, which immediately raised concerns among hospital staff who witnessed the event.
Details of the Alleged Abuse
Police investigators claim that Davis hauled the toddler around the room on multiple occasions during the incident. The citation details that he twisted the child's arm at one point and slammed him into a chair at another. When Davis attempted to give the boy a bottle and the toddler began crying, he allegedly hurled the bottle across the room in frustration.
The document further describes how the child gagged and hit his head on a chair during the altercation. Most disturbingly, authorities allege that as the crying continued, Davis pushed a blanket and his fingers inside the child's mouth and down his throat in what appears to have been a desperate attempt to silence him.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Richmond police launched an investigation into the incident, examining hospital CCTV footage that reportedly captured portions of the alleged abuse. Based on their findings, Davis was taken into custody at the Madison County Detention Center on Thursday.
Court officials confirmed that Davis was released on Friday after posting a $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday through the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, where the evidence against him will be presented.
The charges against Davis specifically relate to first-degree criminal abuse of a child aged 12 or younger, a serious offense under Kentucky law. The case has drawn significant attention due to the vulnerable age of the victim and the shocking nature of the alleged acts committed in a healthcare setting.
