$10,000 bond set for Joplin man accused of biting, abusing two-month old

A $10,000 bond, with $5,000 of that amount being cash, has been set for Thaddeus Monroe Garrison, 19, Joplin, who is charged with felony child abuse.

The alleged crime was described in a news release issued Thursday by the Joplin Police Department:

On October 15, 2014 at approximately 10:05 PM, the JoplinPolice Department received a call for a two-month-old child that had been brought into Freeman West Emergency Room. The infant had sustained serious physical injuries consistent with physical abuse.

The mother of the child along with the boyfriend transported the child to Freeman West. The victim was later transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO and is currently listed in stable condition.

It was later determined that the infant sustained the injuries at 1318 S. Pearl in Joplin. It was determined that while Thaddeus Garrison was caring for the infant, he bit the child on his legs and the trauma was severe enough to break the skin of the child.

At some point while the child was in the sole custody and care of Mr. Garrison, the child received an injury sufficient to cause the cessation of breathing. Mr. Garrison did not seek medical treatment for the child until the mother of the child returned home.