Parents charged with aggravated assault of newborn

MEDIA RELEASE

Lethbridge Police have charged the parents of an infant girl with aggravated assault after the newborn sustained a potentially life-altering injury that may have caused permanent damage to her arm.

On November 27, 2023 Child and Family Services requested police assistance after receiving a report of an injured three-week-old baby at Chinook Regional Hospital. Following further investigation, it was determined the baby’s arm had been broken as a result of significant force.

The infant was subsequently apprehended by Child and Family Services and is no longer in the care of the parents.

The police investigation has been ongoing since last fall and on March 1, a 33-year-old female and 39-year-old male – the mother and father of the baby – were arrested without incident.

The accused, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the child victim, are both charged with aggravated assault, failing to provide necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

On March 2, following Judicial Interim Release hearings, the 33-year-old female was remanded in custody and the 39-year-old male was released. The female is scheduled to appear in court March 5 and the male on March 8.

No further information will be released.