Baby sitter suspected in 3-year-old’s injury

Thu., Oct. 7, 2010

A 25-year-old baby sitter is suspected of critically injuring a 3-year-old Post Falls boy Monday.

The woman told police she shoved the boy to the ground as she was changing his clothes after he urinated, Post Falls police Lt. Greg McLean said Wednesday.

Doctors said the boy had a bleeding skull fracture; police aren’t sure if he’ll survive.

The woman, whose name has not been released, called 911 about 4:30 p.m. “because he was unresponsive,” McLean said. “According to her, it was probably within 10 minutes (of the incident). She tried to revive him.”

McLean described the woman as “very remorseful” and cooperative.

She has not been arrested; police are awaiting an update on the boy’s condition before recommending charges.

The boy was rushed by ambulance to Kootenai Medical Center from his home in the 500 block of North Elm Road, then airlifted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he underwent surgery. He was in critical condition Wednesday.

The woman has been the boy’s baby sitter for about a year, McLean said.

Meghann M. Cuniff

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