Boy has brain injury; dad arrested

The Salt Lake Tribune

Correction: James Ryan Haddock, arrested in connection with suspected child abuse of a 1-year-old boy in American Fork, is the boy's foster father. A story in Friday's edition reported an incorrect relationship.

A baby boy should be celebrating his first birthday today. Instead, he's in an induced coma, a possible victim of child abuse.

The foster father of the baby, James Ryan Hadlock, of American Fork, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child abuse, issuing a false statement to police and obstruction of justice. After spending the night in jail, he was released without bail, but ordered not to be in the home with the infant.

The 1-year-old was airlifted to Primary Children's Medical Center on Sunday after his parents called 911 to report the baby wasn't breathing.

Doctors said an MRI scan showed the boy was bleeding in the brain and that there was evidence of similar bleeding in the past, said Officer Todd Huff, of the American Fork Police Department.

The boy remains in an induced coma in an intensive care unit. Huff said bruises on the boy's body may indicate a past pattern of physical abuse.

Hadlock originally told police he didn't know the cause of the injuries, but later changed his statement. He told police he had been throwing and catching his son in the air when he missed and the baby fell about 8 feet.

Doctors said the bleeding in the brain is inconsistent with such a fall, and Hadlock's story hasn't changed, Huff said.

Hadlock is scheduled to appear in 4th District Court on Wednesday.

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