JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man was arrested July 15 and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse after an infant was treated at Wolfson Children’s Hospital for multiple fractures, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office identified him as Isaiah Alexander Watson, 28.
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Police said the infant was admitted earlier this month after caregivers reported hearing a “pop” in the child’s right arm during supervised tummy time. Doctors said the infant had multiple fractures to the right arm — including an oblique fracture of the distal humerus — and several fractures to the tibias; the injuries were in different stages of healing. Medical staff also reported bleeding in both eyes and other signs consistent with trauma.
The report says investigators from the Department of Children and Families and the sheriff’s office interviewed Watson and the child’s mother. According to the report, Watson acknowledged using forceful techniques to relieve the infant’s constipation, demonstrated those techniques on an anatomically correct doll and told investigators he did not always realize “his own strength.” Investigators say Watson confessed that his handling of the child was the only reasonable explanation for the injuries.
The child protective team later identified additional tibia fractures during an examination, the report said.
Watson was arrested July 15. Bond was listed at $50,003. Court records show a docket entry for Aug. 6.
The investigation remains active, the sheriff’s office said.