MIDLAND, Texas — An arrest affidavit obtained by NewsWest 9 Friday revealed more details on the arrest of an 18-year-old father, Devion Gomez, who was charged with severely injuring his four-month-old.
On Friday, Nov. 22, at 12:59 a.m., the investigator listed on the affidavit said he was called to Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH) because of a "possible child abuse incident."
According to the affidavit, when the investigator arrived to the hospital, a four-month-old was being seen for respiratory problems. The baby was discovered to have multiple rib fractures at "different stages of healing."
The investigator along with a Midland County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) deputy notified the Texas Department of Family Services, Child Protective Services about the incident.
According to the affidavit, both parents of the four-month-old were on scene, the mother, unidentified in the affidavit, and the father, Gomez.
After further medical evaluation, the four-month-old had "new skull fractures" and possible back of the head bone fractures. That initiated a protocol to have the baby to be taken to Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, the affidavit states.
MMH was able to learn that the baby had fractures to the "6th and 7th ribs," as well as an acute bone fracture to the back of the head. The findings also were "highly suspicious for non accidental trauma," the affidavit stated.
The four-month-old's grandparents and parents traveled to Lubbock.
While in Lubbock, the MCSO investigator was able to interview the parents.
During the interview process, Gomez stated that he was picking up the baby from the crib and he had "accidentally bumped the baby's head on the door frame of the bedroom." He also stated that the baby started to cry and "he had put ice on the baby's head to help with any pain."
The mother of the child backed up Gomez and "understood that it was an accident."
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, the investigator listed on the affidavit received all medical findings from the Covenant Children's Hospital on the four-month-old's condition.
According to the affidavit, the "healing or nearly healed fractures of the posterior (in the back position) aspects of the left 6th and 7th ribs, were concerning for child abuse." There was also a back left fracture to the "10th rib." The baby also sustained a left "parieto-occipital bone fracture."
With all these findings in place, the investigator believed Gomez knowingly or intentionally injured the child.
He has been booked into the Midland County Central Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.