WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police arrested a West Lafayette man early Tuesday (Sept. 1) after he allegedly injured an 11-month-old girl in the Purdue Village Apartment Complex hours earlier.
Eric M. Ellis, 19, was charged with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person younger than 14 years old and neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injuries. Ellis, who is not a Purdue student, lives at the apartment with his fiancé, who is the girl’s mother.
According to a police report, Ellis had been babysitting for the child while her mother was attending classes on Monday (Aug. 31). Ellis reportedly sent a text message at about 6:00p to the woman telling her that her child was injured. When the mother arrived home, the couple took her to Home Hospital in Lafayette.
The child’s injuries were not life threatening, but police and Child Protective Services were called to the hospital, Purdue police Sgt. Carrie Costello said.
Battery resulting in bodily injury to a person younger than 14 is a Class D felony, punishable by a maximum three years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury is a Class C felony, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
