Cops: Dad Broke Baby's Arm

Sign up for the St. Pete Patch newsletter!

A 24-year-old St. Petersburg man faces criminal charges after police say he broke his 3-month-old son’s arm and several ribs.

The case against Norman Williams Jr. began to develop when a baby boy was brought into All Children’s Hospital by his mother on Wednesday. According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the woman told hospital staff she was at work when the baby’s father called to say he had fallen off a bed and appeared to be injured.

“Further examination of the child revealed that in addition to the broken arm the baby had multiple rib fractures which were in different stages of healing,” an email to media from the department stated.

When investigators went to the Mosley Motel, where the family was living, they found Williams with five other children, ages 1 to 8. Two of the children had bruises on their bodies, the email stated.

“Those children, ages 5 and 6, stated that Williams had inflicted the injuries upon them,” the email said. “Two of the children also stated that they had witnessed Williams strangle the baby victim when it wouldn’t stop crying.”

The children were taken into protective custody.

Williams was brought to jail on one charge of aggravated child abuse and two counts of child abuse. According to Pinellas County Jail records, he was being held without bond Friday morning.

Photos courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department