After a 9-month-old St. Paul baby was found with broken ribs and a skull fracture on Thursday, police arrested the child’s mother’s boyfriend.
Eric Mercado Magana was booked on suspicion of felony assault. The Ramsey County attorney’s office is reviewing a case against the 21-year-old for potential charges.
The St. Paul city attorney’s office charged Magana on Friday with misdemeanor domestic assault against his 20-year-old girlfriend.
On Sunday, “they got into an argument over Facebook posts” and Magana punched her in the arm, “causing a significant bruise,” according to the criminal complaint.
On Thursday, the woman took her infant son to a doctor’s office, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a St. Paul police spokesman. Because of the severity of the baby’s injuries, he was taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in St. Paul.
Some of the baby’s rib fractures appeared to have occurred in previous weeks and others appeared newer, Ernster said. The infant also had a toe fracture, and bruising on his fingers and toes, according to police. The baby is reported to be in stable condition.
Magana “explained the injuries as an accident, which did not match the significant level and number of injuries, including from different time frames,” Ernster said. Police arrested Magana.
During the investigation, police were told Magana recently assaulted his girlfriend, which led to the charge filed on Friday, Ernster said. Magana is being held in the Ramsey County jail. An attorney was not listed for him in the court record.