Georgia Man Accused of Locking Wife in Bedroom When She Tried to Take Baby with Broken Ribs to Hospital

A Georgia man has been arrested after his 3-month-old child was allegedly brought to the emergency room with broken ribs and a brain bleed, according to authorities.

On the morning of Feb. 5, the infant’s mother reportedly left the baby with his father, identified as 30-year-old Cesar Alejandro Lopez Sr., and she went to work, the Rome Police Department reported.

Around 6:15 p.m. that evening, the mother returned to their home in Rome and noticed the child was on the bed making grunting noises. She initially thought the child was suffering from gas and asked Lopez to watch their child while she took a shower, officials said.

While in the shower, Lopez reportedly brought the baby into the bathroom, wrapped in a blanket, and asked if she could make the baby stop crying, authorities said.

When she took the child from Lopez, she noticed the infant had bruises on his arms, legs and abdomen. She asked Lopez what happened and he allegedly became defensive and refused to answer, police said.

When the mother said she was going to take the baby to the emergency room, Lopez took her cell phone and locked her in a room, according to authorities.

Her 8-year-old daughter eventually let her out of the room and she went to the hospital with the baby, according to police.

At the hospital, the baby was diagnosed with broken ribs and a brain bleed. Police were given Lopez’s location and immediately picked him up.

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He was charged with false imprisonment, two counts of first degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault and aggravated battery, officials said.

Lopez was being held without bond.

Officials said the baby is now in stable condition at Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta.