CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Two Enola residents were arrested and charged with assaulting an infant.
On Dec. 19, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., East Pennsboro Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Erford Road in Camp Hill for a reported assault, police said.
According to police, an infant was transported to Hershey Medical Center with alleged significant injuries.
A criminal complaint states that parents Emory Barton, 45, and Shaina Romaine Barton, 29, told police they were home cleaning when one of them knocked a phone off the counter, and it hit the baby, who was allegedly sitting in her seat close by, in the face.
Shaina said she then took the baby to the emergency room due to obvious swelling in the area, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Police say that hospital documents state that "a cell phone falling from the counter and striking [the baby] in the head does not adequately explain the injuries that were sustained."
The criminal complaint goes on to list the injuries recorded at the hospital, which include scalp bruising, skull fractures involving three different bones of the skull, bilateral subdural hematomas, subarachnoid hemorrhages, brain contusion and brain swelling.
The hospital's report also noted that it would be important to monitor the infant's development over time, as they are now at risk for delayed or impaired development.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, police made multiple attempts after their hospital visit to interview the Barton's again. The pair allegedly denied all requests to meet with officers.
In the criminal complaint, police conclude that by the Barton's own admission, they were the only adults home at the time the baby's injuries allegedly occurred. Officers believe both had to have some hand in injuring the child, as their residence is only one floor and all three would have had to be in close proximity during the alleged incident.
Both Emory and Shaina were charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children, court documents show.
The Barton's were arrested and transported to the District Judge's office for preliminary arraignments, police said.
