Thursday, 4:30 PM
Infant in intensive care; father charged with abuse
By Globe Staff
An 8-month-old infant is in intensive care today after Fall River police allege he was so badly abused by his father that he stopped breathing.
Police arrested Christopher J. Cerce, 30, at his home in Fall River and charged him with recklessly or wantonly endangering a child; assault and battery on a child with substantial injury; and possession of marijuana. He pleaded not guilty at his arraigned today in Fall River District Court and was ordered to be held on $100,000 cash bail.
According to police, Cerce called 911 at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday and said his son wasn't breathing. The boy was rushed to St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River and transferred to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island.
Doctors at Hasbro told Fall River detectives that the infant had likely been violently beaten or shaken. Police arrested Cerce without incident. He is due back in court on May 11.
