By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Detectives yesterday arrested a 23-year-old Chehalis area man for allegedly shaking his infant girl causing severe injuries.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says Tyler C. Abair was alone with his 4-month old child when it happened and told deputies he only shook her when she began choking while drinking a bottle.
It happened at the 700 block of Koontz Road last month, and detectives were waiting for medical reports to confirm their suspicions, according to a news release.
The baby is now recovering at home with her mother and Abair remains in the Lewis County Jail, where he was already in custody serving time for unrelated crimes, according to the sheriff’s office.
The case shares several commonalities with a 22-year-old Mineral man arrested last fall for allegedly seriously injuring by shaking his former girlfriend’s 4-month old. Kyle Davison told the sheriff’s office told authorities that baby was choking and not breathing.
Like Davison, Abair is facing a charge of first-degree assault of a child.
The sheriff’s office said when the baby girl stopped breathing on April 13. Abair called the baby’s mother who was nearby at work, instead of calling 911 himself.
“The mother had someone call 911 immediately, responded home, and began CPR,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown stated in the news release.
Abair reportedly initially denied injuring or shaking the infant.
The child was transferred to Marybridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma and doctors reported the infant had suffered retinal hemorrhaging and a brain injury consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome, according to Brown.
Brown said doctors also found old brain injuries which appeared to be caused in the same manner.
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Read also, “Lawyer seeks second opinion on brain trauma in Morton child assault case” from Monday April 14, 2014, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
What a punk! I would love to get my hands on you!
How sad…My grandaughter aspirated and it appeared she was choking and stopped breathing this took place several times her first year very scary..The first time was on easter at my home the scariest thing ever. I thought she was choking on a fruit snack and she quit breathing after many hospital stays they found that she aspirates and fills her lungs with fluid from sickness and teething or possible mold in the apartments she lived in….She also had hemorrhaging in her eyes and started to seize on her way to the hospital….This was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed……If he did infact do this May god punish him as he harmed the most innocence of beings..
Agree sunshinegirl and BobbyinLC. sounds like this guy is a puke and needs to be put down. Yes I said “Put Down”. Harm a child, hurt an elderly person, rape a woman, you die. Fast and simple, hung in the town square for all to watch.
It is happening so often what can you say? Public education is out there, everyone knows you don’t shake babies. Prison is the answer for this guy.
Whatta PIG!!!
Wow, I have had 3 kids of my own, a whole slew of Grandkids, and dozens in my care when I did daycare, but very seldom do they choke on their bottle or when they eat , and when they do , they usually do not quit breathing. So is this just the standard excuse for these guys? This is the modern age , we all know NOT to shake baby. If the throat is obstructed you turn them over and and pat on the back or use a finger to dislodge an obstruction. Maybe we should tatoo this on their little bodies or maybe we could just cut to the chase, and lock these assholes up because their tired old excuse just isn’t cutting it anymore !!!!
If there is old brain injuries, they should check into it, the mother maybe at fault too! That poor little girl I hope she gets better.