SALAMANCA, N.Y. — A Salamanca man was arrested Thursday following an investigation into the severe physical abuse of a 1-year-old girl.
Salamanca police announced Jarred W. Murphy, 25, of 3731 Center Road, was arrested for first-degree assault, a class B felony; reckless assault of a child, a class D felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
Murphy was arraigned late Thursday morning by Judge Alan Speers in Salamanca City Court. He was remanded to Cattaraugus County Jail in Little Valley and held in lieu of $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear back in court at a later date.
The child, who was reported Thursday to be in critical condition at Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, suffered a severe head injury and underwent emergency brain surgery following an incident last week.
Salamanca Police Chief Troy Westfall said the girl is better off than she was last week, but “she is not out of the woods yet.”
Around 11:30 a.m. March 26, the Salamanca Fire Department was called to respond to a 1-year-old female infant in medical distress. Emergency responders contacted the Salamanca Police Department and Child Protection Services to advise them, as “the injuries did not appear to match the description of events told to them by the child’s caregiver,” Murphy, according to a press release from the Salamanca police.
“The fire department arrived on-scene first and called us because they didn’t believe the extent of this child’s injuries could have been caused by just a fall, as they were told,” said Salamanca Police Chief Troy Westfall.
The investigation revealed that Murphy was the sole caregiver present at the time of the child’s injuries. Authorities could not confirm what relation Murphy had to the child, although it was confirmed that he was not a biological parent.
“Our investigators have spoken with this child’s family, and especially with the mother of this little girl, and they have been cooperative and helpful,” Westfall said.
Investigators Rhonda Bush and Tina Owens of the Salamanca Police Department, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and Child Protective Services were the lead investigators on the case.
“Our success in this case is directly owed to Rhonda Bush and Tina Owens, who not only put in all their time, but their whole hearts into this case,” Westfall said. “Our team here and other agencies involved worked together so that these two could devote everything they did to this case.”
When asked how he and his officers handle such disturbing allegations, Westfall said, “one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time.
“Almost all of us are parents here and little children are so helpless, it’s incredibly frustrating,” he added.
The chief said he hopes there is at least something for the community to take away from these events.
“If there’s a message here, it’s that if you see something, say something,” he said. “If a child may be or could be in danger in an environment or household, call the Child Protective Services hotline, or call us and we can check on the welfare of the child.
“Being a parent or caretaker, especially at a young age, can be difficult. But before taking out your frustrations on a small child, call us, because you can’t take those injuries back.”
