South Jersey Cop Accused Of Severely Injuring Toddler: Report

SALEM COUNTY, NJ — A Penns Grove police officer is facing charges after authorities said he severely injured a 2-year-old boy left in his care, according to a NJ Advance Media report.

Anthony J. Minguez, 38, of Carneys Point, was caring for the boy at his home in February when he called 911 and told authorities the child had fallen, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ.com.

Court documents said doctors discovered the boy had a serious head injury and concluded he was a victim of child abuse, NJ.com reported.

A grand jury indicted Minguez last week on charges of second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, the report said.

Minguez previously faced charges in 2017 in an unrelated case. According to a Philadelphia Tribune report, Minguez was off-duty and dining at a Pennsville Applebee’s when he was accused of exposing his genitals to two young boys.

The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office said Minguez was in a bathroom stall when the boys came in and surprised him, the Tribune reported. Prosecutors declined to indict him and charges were dropped to the municipal level.

Minguez was found not guilty by a judge in February 2018, reports said.