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Teen Accused of Abusing Infant, Breaking Bones

Dustin Michael Lewis, 18, of Cartersville, was arrested and charged cruelty to children and aggravated battery in connection with the 6-week-old baby's injuries, including a knot on the head.

 

A local teen has been arrested in connection with a large knot on a 6-week-old baby's head.

Cartersville Police Department Chief Tommy Culpepper said in a news release that Dustin Michael Lewis, 18, of Cartersville, was arrested following the Jan. 30 incident.

The child's mother took her to the emergency room at Cartersville Medical Center for treatment of the knot on her head. Further examination revealed the infant also had broken ribs, a fractured skull, a broken left tibula and a broken left femur.

The mom, also 18, told police her boyfriend was in the bedroom of a West Carter Street home, feeding the baby and he came into the living room, saying the baby had a small knot on her head, according to the incident report, attached. The next morning, the baby woke her screaming and crying as if in pain and the knot had enlarged, she said.

Police interviewed several individuals, but arrested Lewis, who was charged with cruelty to children and aggravated battery. He is currently in custody at the Bartow County jail.

The infant was placed in state custody for her safety and the investigation continues.

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Related Topics: Cartersville Crime Blotter, cartersville arrests, and cartersville crime

Terry Trowbridge

1:06 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

This is so sad, a baby that is just six weeks old, what in the world was he thinking? Was drugs involved?

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Denise storey

1:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

2 the same 2 him i will be more than glad 2 help

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Denise storey

1:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

Correction 2 my last post.Do the same 2 him i will be more 2 help!

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Robert Jake hufstetler

1:31 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

I just don't believe it this is crazy af iv known this kid since I was 5 years old he was real good people , an to hear this ... Smh

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Andrew Cyrus Sanford

2:11 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

I can't belive my own cuzin would do such a thing to a beautiful child . the mom is already upset about it and she needs as much help as she can get . i wish i knew why he would do that tosuch a helpless child .

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DTrice

2:50 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

How could the mother not have known the baby was being abused??? And now the baby is going home with her?? Makes me sick I hope they keep a close tab on her this makes me sick.

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Ashley Mitchell

7:01 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

Ive known the mother for years she would never do that to her own child she is way to sweet her and i basically grew up together the baby is a lot safer with her

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Gayla

7:01 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

Babies having babies...so sad for all involved. Prayers for the family.

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Kristen

7:02 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

That baby will get justice , my question is we're was the mom when this happened as soon as she saw the knot she should've taken the child to Er. They need to arrest her too for neglect . What is this world coming too? Thank God the poor Angel is in state custody

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Cassi Lynn Tibbetts

7:15 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013

She was at work...She was the one who had a job between the two of them.

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Brande Poulnot

7:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

We've deleted some comments that violated our terms of use, including the agreement that our users will not post language that is defamatory, abusive, obscene, profane or offensive; or threatening, harassing or that promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual; or that promotes or encourages violence. http://cartersville.patch.com/terms Please remember Lewis has been accused, not convicted.

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Candice Caskey

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

This is sick there are people in this world that cant have children, then you turn around and hear garbage like this. People like this shouldn't be allowed to have children.

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Carlieberger

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

She is like my sister I know her she would never do anything to hurt her baby. Please just leave her alone. She has been thro a lot. And she has a baby to stay strong for. She cant be strong with people in her face.

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Carlieberger

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

And the mom was at work. You know that thing people do to feed thir family

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Judy Chitwood

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

The article said the baby was placed in state custody, which means it did not go home with Mom either. Believe me, a 6 week old baby does not get a knot on the head, broken skull, broken ribs and 2 more broken bones by itself. This was done by a person.

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Sharlene Hines

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

We have to get a license to drive,to carry a weapon,to hunt....pass tests to teach,to nurse,to protect & serve...among countless other things.....PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE PARENTING CLASSES BEFORE THEY HAVE CHILDREN!

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psychnurse

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

Praying for a full recovery for this innocent precious baby!!!! I hope the authorities get to the bottom of this and find the responsible party(s)

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Karma

11:29 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

The mother did the right thing by taking the child to the hospital, she didn't cover up for boyfriend. She is a young mother and probably didn't think of abuse/neglect. What could a 6 week old infant do to have a knot on the head? Crawling infant, I could see a bumps and bruises happening. I pray the infant is ok and no permanent damage.

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Carlieberger

7:15 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013

The fathe has admitted to all the baby's injuries. The baby is going home with her innocent mother.

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Cassi Lynn Tibbetts

7:15 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013

Ugh. I knew this was going to happen when they started dating. I tried to tell the mother, but love blinds and she was drunk with it. She loves completely, which is both a vice & a virtue.

Dustin, that baby girl is her life's joy and you dared to try and take it from her. I hope you rot in jail for as long as humanly possible, because you deserve it and so much more.

To the mother; we all love you and I hope you know that. Your little one will be back in your arms soon, just keep that in mind and know we're all here for you.

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WE BELIEVE IN YOU

7:15 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013

People need to not run their mouths unless they know the facts. You need to think how you would feel if this was happening to your family, The mother did the right thing by carrying the child to the ER. She and her family are in enough pain without having people on here slamming them more. Have some Respect for them as you would want respect for yourself if this was happening in your family

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Haley little

7:59 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013

I've know Dustin since I was little, and he's my ex boyfriend I know him so well, ad I can't bring myself to believe he would do this, he not violet at all, he's always been a sweet, loving boy.

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Ms. Lewis

7:59 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013

As a member of the family, I know first hand the abuse happened over a period of time. It didn't happen all at once while the mother was a work. This baby had broken bones for days if not weeks before the knot appeared and it was taken to the ER. She may be a good mother, but if she didn't notice her baby had broken bones, then she needs to be checked out before the baby is returned to her.

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Always an Emerson girl!

1:07 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

Ms. Lewis, YOU need to be jailed as well if, as you say, "I know first hand the abuse happened over a period of time..." What kind of monster are you that you would know and not do anything? That baby must have been abused practically if not every day if it did indeed happen over a period of time because the baby is ONLY SIX WEEKS OLD! Excuse me, I have to go puke.

Bill sparks

7:59 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013

This is what happens when children have children.

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jan petitt

1:07 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

Mr. Lewis if you have known for weeks that abuse was taking place and didn't do something to stop it, then you should be held accountable also. What is wrong with you?

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Ms. Lewis

12:54 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I didn't know before the baby was taken to the ER that the abuse was happening. I asked the mother straight out AFTER he was arrested and she told me herself it happened over a period of time. That is how I know. If I had known while it was happening I would've called the police a long time ago.

sabrina

11:12 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

okay as a young mother myself when your a new mom you dont know alot of stuff i pretty took my daughter to the ER all the time and plus she trusted dustin y wud she think he was hurting her baby how do you know what she was thinking? maybe she asked him how did that bump happen who did it when did it happen? He could of lied you dont know, i still find it hard to believe he did n i didnt have his kid and i wasnt there so put yourself in her shoes. no one is perfect, shes a good mom and being away from her daughter when she needs her daughter just as much as her daughter needs her must be hard on her. she goes to school and work he watched their baby. ima tell you a story my father did terrible things my mom cant stand him, when my sister and me were little my mom had to live wit him including use my mom couldnt even sleep but for her to have a roof over our head and give us food thats what she had to do. the moment the mom found out her baby was being abused and someone was hurting her do you think even for a second that it was dustin? of course people want to blame the mother when she didnt do it! its different if for years she picked the man n watched her baby be abused, the moment she found out she took the baby to the ER.......just leave her alone shes going threw enough and about half of you know nothing that happened cause you werent there. Liz if your reading this crap people are saying dont listen to it. I know you love you little girl

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J D Fowler

4:10 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013

Is there an update to this story. How is the baby doing and is she back home with her mother? They are still in my prayers.

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Hope4tmw@yahoo.com

10:56 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013

The mom deserves her baby back. She didn't do anything, and if she took her baby to the ER the baby is SAFE with her.

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