PHOENIX — A west Phoenix man has been arrested for abusing his three children, who are all under two years old.
Phoenix police report that on February 6, they responded to Phoenix Children's Hospital for reported child abuse.
Detectives went to the pediatric intensive care unit, where they talked with the mother of a 3-month-old girl.
She explained that she had been out of town, and when she returned, she noticed that her daughter was not eating, was stoic, and was not tracking with her eyes.
Doctors reported the girl had a brain bleed, lacerated liver, and 13 broken ribs.
The next day, the girl's twin was evaluated and found to have similar injuries.
A third child, an 18-month-old boy, was found to have several broken ribs in various stages of healing.
Police say the children's father, 29-year-old Dontae Lavvone Johnson, was watching the children while his wife was out of town.
Police contacted him on Wednesday, when police say "he made several admissions to account for all of the victim's injuries."
He allegedly said that he shook the twins "violently back and forth," and also admitted to hitting the older brother on his back, ribs, and legs.
Police say Johnson told them he was frustrated with caring for all three children at the same time, while his wife was gone.
Johnson was arrested at his home near 83rd Avenue and McDowell Road for six counts of child abuse.
If you suspect a child is being abused, the Arizona Department of Child Services has resources available to report the issue to a social worker. You can call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and will be asked for information about the child, as well as the nature of your concerns. You can also get more information from DCS about reporting abuse or neglect online.
