PENNSYLVANIA MAN ALLEGEDLY THREW TODDLER INTO PACK-N-PLAY SO HARD FAMILY'S CHIHUAHUA WAS KILLED

PEOPLE

 

Pa. Man Allegedly Threw Toddler into Pack-n-Play So Hard that Family's Chihuahua Was Killed

Bryan Morales Gracia, 34, of Altoona, is facing child endangerment and animal cruelty charges, police said

 

A Pennsylvania man is facing criminal charges after being accused of throwing a toddler so hard into a Pack-n-Play that their pet Chihuahua was fatally crushed, say authorities.

 

On May 26, Bryan Morales Gracia, 34, of Altoona, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering Another person, cruelty to animals, simple assault and harassment.

 

Authorities learned about the incident on May 25 at about 10:57 p.m., when Altoona police officers responded to a call about an adult male allegedly assaulting an 18-month old in an apartment, the Altoona Police Department said in a statement.

 

A witness who parked outside the building and could see into the bedroom window of Morales Gracia’s apartment called police, claiming a man — later identified by police as Morales Gracia — could be seen repeatedly striking the child before throwing the child into a Pack-n-Play, police said.

 

Officers got to the apartment and found an injured toddler and a dead Chihuahua, per the statement.

 

“It was determined that the child and Chihuahua are often placed into the Pack-n-Play together and were on this night,” police said. “During this incident, the child was thrown into the Pack-n-Play with such force that it fatally wounded the Chihuahua.”

 

The witness told police she ran up to the window and yelled at Morales Gracia to stop hitting the child, police said, according to the affidavit of probable cause, obtained by the Altoona Mirror.

 

The witness alleged the suspect was “smacking the child repeatedly,” the affidavit states, according to the Mirror.

 

The child was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Morales Gracia told police he struck the child for hitting the dog, which he said the child often does, the Mirror reports.

 

He said he placed the child on top of the dog by mistake, the affidavit said, according to the Mirror.

 

Morales Gracia remains held at the Blair County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bail.

 

He is scheduled to return to court on July 5.

 

It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

 

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.