KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A father accused of abuse told police he hit his 7-week-old daughter on the side of her head to wake her up.
Josh Vahle, 37, of Independence is charged in Jackson County court with abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury.
An Independence police officer responded Dec. 2 to Children's Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, regarding the suspected assault of an infant, according to a court document.
The weeks-old girl had been taken to the hospital in late November because of swelling in her head and brain, court records show.
A procedure was done to drain blood from both sides of the baby's brain.
The baby had been in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals since birth, according to court documents. A doctor later diagnosed the baby's injuries as child abuse.
Vahle told police a bruise on the baby's ear was from him "flicking'' her ear with his finger to wake the baby.
He also told police he would slap the baby on both sides of her head to wake her or to get the baby to respond, according to the court document.
Vahle was ordered by a judge not to have contact with the baby's mother or the baby.
His bond was set at $50,000.
