Crystal City Police and the state Children’s Division are investigating a potential child abuse case based on a Jan. 28 incident involving a 3-year-old boy.
The child was dropped off that day at a Herculaneum day care center and a worker noticed bruises on his face.
The center contacted Herculaneum Police, who discovered the boy and his 22-year-old mother lived in Crystal City.
“It happened at the house on Steamboat Court, 2000 block,” said Crystal City Police Capt. Mike Pruneau. “We went up to see the mother. She said her boyfriend had spanked the child and not hit him hard, but then she had left.
“He (the child) had welts all over his body, his face and buttocks. Her boyfriend admitted to spanking the child.”
The child was taken to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis for examination.
“It was superficial welts and bruising,” Pruneau said.
Pruneau said police are focusing on what they believe to be drug paraphernalia seized at the apartment.
“There was evidence of marijuana and methamphetamine use,” he said.
The 20-year-old boyfriend, who lives in the 300 block of Lindsay Avenue in Crystal City, has been served with an order not to trespass at the apartment.