Man Squeezed Sleeping Child Against His Chest: West Haven PD

WEST HAVEN. CT - A man is facing charges after police say he tried to smother his child early Monday morning in West Haven.

Police responded to an address on North Place for a domestic dispute involving an injured 21-month-old child around 1:20 a.m. The child's mother called 911 explaining that the child's father, identified as Lamar Heyward, came home and put a pillow on the sleeping child, police said.

The mother also told police that Heyward has an addiction to PCP.

According to police, Heyward put a pillow on the sleeping child and then picked her up, squeezing her tight against his chest, waking the child.

The mother and her roommate could not get Heyward to stop squeezing the child as the child vomited, police said. When police arrived, they found Heyward still holding the child squeezing her.

Heyward refused officers' directions and had to be forcefully separated from the child, police said. He continued to resist directions from officers and was subdued after a brief struggle.

The child suffered minor injuries to her face and was transported to Yale Pediatric Hospital for treatment.

Heyward was arrested for risk of injury to a child, first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with police, and disorderly conduct. He was held on bond.

Image via West Haven PD