SCRANTON -- A 21-year-old father in Lackawanna County is locked up tonight accused of badly injuring his two month old daughter because she wouldn't stop crying.
Scranton Police made the arrest Wednesday night after the father himself called 9-1-1 saying his daughter had stopped breathing. The father, Josh Simon, of Scranton first told police his daughter had a bad case of the flu.
Simon later admitted to the abuse after doctors said the baby suffered severe head trauma.
Josh Simon of Scranton posted a picture on Facebook last month of him cradling his newborn daughter who is now two months old. According to Scranton Police, Simon called 911 last night when the baby stopped breathing.
Police and EMT's arrived at Simon's home on Sanderson Avenue and saw that the baby had bruises on her face and a scratch under her eye. Simon insisted though the baby only had a bad case of the flu.
After doctors found that the baby's brain was bleeding, Simon admitted that he shook the baby "very hard" because she wouldn't stop crying. According to court papers, Simon said he then hit her with a closed fist and threw the baby on the couch.
Police charged Simon with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Neighbors in Scranton said Simon and his family are new to Sanderson Avenue, they didn't even know Simon had a young child.
"We're hearing about it a little bit too much anymore. I think they ought to look into a see if they can get family intervention with these type of people. I don't know what to say, it's really sad to hear I hope the baby's going to be ok," said neighbor Jim Walsh.
While Simon was being charged by police, his two month old daughter was being airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center near Danville for treatment.
Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano said the baby girl is now on life support.
"This is one of the most difficult cases to be on when police officers investigate these. Because officers have children and it's human nature that babies are innocents, the innocence of a baby. It's very frustrating on the officer's part to investigate these," Chief Graziano said.
Josh Simon was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and reckless endangerment last night. He is being held at the Lackawanna County Prison on bail.