17-month-old girl in critical condition; mother’s boyfriend arrested

A 17-month-old girl is in critical condition Tuesday at a local hospital after police responded to a 911 call that a child had fallen.

When emergency crews arrived in the 5100 block of South Meridian on Monday, they were told the fall had occurred 30 minutes before the call, said Wichita police Capt. Jeff Weible. The 17-month-old girl had been at home with her 4- year-old sister and their mother’s 21-year-old boyfriend. The mother, 38, was at work at the time.

The baby had multiple bruises and other internal injuries, Weible said. Doctors at the hospital said the child was also suffering from a brain bleed, he said.

“These injuries are indicative of child abuse,” Weible said.

The boyfriend was arrested on suspicion on child abuse.

The 4-year-old sister, who was uninjured, was taken into protective custody.

The case is being investigated by Wichita police and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 1:54 PM with the headline "17-month-old girl in critical condition; mother’s boyfriend arrested."