LONDONDERRY, NH — A man from Londonderry who also works as a firefighter in Andover, Massachusetts, has been placed on leave in that community after being accused of child abuse.
Adam Cole, 33, of Greeley Road in Londonderry, was arrested Monday on second-degree assault-victim under 13, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child charges after a multi-week police investigation of a boy, about three months old, who suffered from a seizure and a brain bleed on July 5.
Police learned about the incident after receiving a law enforcement notice from NH DCYF after the child was taken to Elliot Hospital. Due to the "severity of the brain bleed," a detective wrote, the child was taken to Boston-Children's Hospital for additional care.
The next day, two detectives and a DCYF staffer went to Boston to perform a safety check.
They spoke with the child's parents, who gave consent to be recorded, and learned the child was "soaked with sweat and (acting) abnormally" when Cole picked him up from his crib, an affidavit said. He went to heat up a bottle, placed the child down, and a few minutes later, noticed the child was "rigid with arms raised and head back," with "jerking movements," as if he was having a seizure, the report said.
Editor's note: This post was derived from information provided by the Londonderry Police Department and Derry District Court and does not constitute a conviction. This link explains how to request the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.
Cole called 911, fire and rescue teams arrived, and the boy was taken to the hospital, and after the brain bleed was discovered, taken to Boston.
The detectives learned the family was at a lake house all week with other family members, and the child was on a boat every day but secured in a bouncy seat, the report stated. The parents noted the night before returning home, the water on the lake had been more "choppy" than it had been all week, a detective wrote. Another potential incident involved another child causing the bouncy chair to ricochet, which another family member witnessed.
One detective and the DCYF employee checked on the child and they seemed to be doing better, the report said. The parents also showed bruises on the child's leg and rib cage.
On July 8, the detective listened to the 911 call made by the child's mother, but she did not mention a seizure, the affidavit said.
Later that day, the detective spoke with the DCYF employee and a social worker in Boston, who told them the injuries appeared "non-accidental" and that other tests would be performed.
An MRI did not show worsening symptoms or head injuries, the report said.
Other medical staff also confirmed the injuries appeared non-accidental. One doctor described a possible event, like shaken baby or hitting a soft surface, like a couch or bed, as a possibility, but did not know the exact time when the child was injured. The doctor estimated it was the night before the child was taken to the hospital.
A home check was performed on July 9, with family members present, and there were no safety concerns, the detective noted. The child, the detective said, was home and "appeared well."
A week later, the reporting detective spoke with family members about the week at the lake house.
One family member reported no concerns or issues with the parents or children.
Another, who witnessed the ricochet, said the other child had pulled back on the bouncy seat and let it go, but they did not think it caused any injury.
A report from the Londonderry Fire Department was also obtained and there was no mention of a seizure, the detective wrote.
Medical records from the Elliot indicated a subarachnoid hemorrhage and nondisplaced fracture of the right clavicle. There was also mention of a seizure, with the boy's mother stating when she attempted to feed him, the child projectile vomited. Doctors also noticed the bruising, the report said, and the staff felt it necessary to contact a child protective physical that was on call. Later, they called DCYF.
Similar written findings were reported by Boston Children's Hospital, the report said.
On Aug. 10, detectives interviewed the parents.
Cole was accused of referring to a genetic disorder, the boat rides, and the ricochet of the bouncy chair as the cause of the medical event, the report said. He denied knowing about any nonaccidental trauma, the detective wrote.
In an affidavit, the detective accused Cole of making statements like, "I didn't do anything on purpose"; "my wife definitely didn't do anything on purpose"; "I don't think I did anything that would result in this situation"; and "I didn't do anything that would result in, like, that happening to him. Like, none of it was on purpose."
One detective asked Cole if it was possible he got up with the child that night and possibly got rough with the child, and he "then shook his head 'yes' slightly and said, 'Yeah' to (the detective)," the report stated.
"It could be a possibility," Cole was accused of saying.
A detective asked Cole to explain more, and he admitted he was cradling the child and proceeded to apply two hard bumps to his back, simultaneously thrusting the child into his body, and demonstrated what he did, the affidavit said. After doing this, the child started to cry and then had the seizure, the affidavit said. The reporting detective accused Cole of confirming his comment again and how the two bumps, thrust of the body, and seizure occurred. Cole also admitted his wife was not aware of the incident, the affidavit said.
Cole was arrested and held without bail on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the child endangerment charge on Tuesday and was released on $5,000 cash bail. Cole is back in Derry District Court for a probable cause hearing on Sept. 23.
After his arrest, the town of Andover, MA, confirmed to NBC Boston he worked for the fire department and had been placed on administrative leave.
Do you have a news tip? Email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube or Rumble channels. Patch in New Hampshire is now in 227 communities and neighborhoods — and expanding every day. Also, follow Patch on Google Discover.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Londonderry Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.