10-year-old boy calls for help after mother beaten with baseball bat

A 10-year-old boy called authorities for help Wednesday night after his mother was struck in the head with a baseball bat.

Deputies arrived at a home near Moen Street and Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley just after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. They found the victim bleeding “profusely” from the head with several visible wounds, including an “indentation” on her forehead, according to court documents. There was blood throughout the residence.

The woman’s ex-boyfriend, who is suspected of carrying out the attack, had left before deputies arrived. The boy said he heard the attack but did not see it. He was uninjured.

The woman appeared to have “significant head trauma” but is expected to survive.

Police K-9 Bane led deputies to an alley behind the home where they found the man, identified as 42-year-old Sonny E. Cannella, lying on the ground. Cannella told deputies that he had been drinking, taking medication and had drunk nicotine oil used in electronic cigarettes.

Cannella was examined at a local hospital and then booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of second-degree domestic violence assault. He also was wanted on a Department of Corrections felony warrant from Wisconsin. His bond was set at $60,000 during a brief court appearance Thursday.