Police say Morgantown man broke baby’s leg for crying

Phillip Campbell was arrested on two felony charges following an abuse investigation by the WV State Police Crimes Against Children Unit.
Phillip Campbell was arrested on two felony charges following an abuse investigation by the WV State Police Crimes Against Children Unit.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An investigation by the West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit led to the arrest of Phillip Campbell, 21 of Morgantown, on Wednesday.

Campbell was charged with felony child abuse resulting in injury and felony child neglect creating risk of injury.

Investigators say he is responsible for serious injuries to his girlfriend’s six month old son.

The victim was treated at Ruby Memorial Hospital for a spiral fracture to his right leg and a bloody nose.

Sergeant Adam Scott said Campbell admitted when the baby was crying he “roughed him up a little bit”.

According to the criminal complaint, Campbell tried to quiet the child while he was playing video games. The suspect allegedly pushed the victim with the pillows, using his foot, out of frustration.

When the infant continued to cry, Sgt. Scott reported that Campbell pulled on the victim’s leg.

Campbell initially told police a dog caused the baby’s injuries police said.

Excerpt from Sgt. Scott’s report:

“He said that he knows it was stupid. He further stated that he made the story up about the dog causing the injury because he didn’t want anyone to know what he did. He said he was mad and frustrated the victim wouldn’t stop crying while he played his video game, so he lost it cause he couldn’t make him comfortable.

When asked if he had done anything like this before to the victim, Campbell said he smacked the six month old’s butt for crying and fussing all day. He said the six month old victim wouldn’t listen to him while he was telling him not to do things. There was small bruise on the victim’s butt as a result of the smacking.

Campbell said he has also put his hand over the victim’s mouth to keep him from crying before, trying to get him to “shut up”.

Lastly, Campbell said he has watched the victim bang his head on the floor while crawling and just sit and let it happen.”

 

Child Protective Services were involved in the investigation and had already found the home to be unfit for a child.

Campbell was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court and placed on a $20,000 cash or surety bond.





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