Two accused of dropping baby
Parents charged in injury to Chautauqua newborn
A mother and father are accused of dropping their newborn on his head before leaving the hospital, then taking the baby home without reporting the incident to medical staff.
Investigators from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office have charged Daniel L. Palmer, 22, of Sinclairville, and Kelly A. Blakeslee, 18, of Ripley, with endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said.
The newborn suffered bruising and was returned to the hospital to be checked out but has since been released, according to Undersheriff Charles J. Holder.
The baby is now under the care of the Department of Social Services, Holder said.
Palmer and Blakeslee, meanwhile, were given an appearance ticket Tuesday morning and will be in Dunkirk City Court at a later date, Holder said.
Sheriff’s officials provided little detail about the case Wednesday.
The Sheriff’s Office was informed Monday that the newborn may have suffered injuries while at a residence in Ripley.
They later learned the baby had been born recently in Brooks Memorial Hospital, Dunkirk.
Just before the baby was to be released from the hospital, Blakeslee dropped the baby, his head hitting the floor, according to sheriff’s officials.
