A 33 year Spring Valley man was arrested Friday for beating his infant son, said San Diego County Sheriff's detectives. "The infant had 34 fractures to his legs, arms, ribs and back," Sgt. Hank Turner said.
The investigation began a month ago when the boy's mother brought the child to Rady Children's Hospital. "They took the x-ray and found some (fractures) and then they did a full body x-ray and found more and I was just like where is this coming from, how did this happen," said the child's mother Brittany.
Detectives believe Mauricio Lopez, 33, had been beating his infant son over a period of months. "The medical staff at Children's Hospital felt the injuries were over a period of time, some were healing, some were fresh," Sgt. Turner said.
When detectives tried to arrest Lopez, he attempted to escape by hiding in a Home Depot in El Cajon. "He tried to change his clothes to change his appearance," Turner said.
Lopez's neighbor on Gowin Street said she never suspected any abuse. "I never heard the baby crying, and everytime I seen the baby it was smiling," said Martha Flores. The boy's mother also said she had no idea her son was being abused. "When did this happen, how did I not catch it," Brittany said.
Mauricio Lopez is being charged with felony child abuse. He will be arraigned next week.
