Ohio – In an unsettling case in Ohio, a 1‑month‑old boy was admitted to the hospital with severe brain trauma after his 20‑year‑old father, identified as H. Dalton, allegedly assaulted both the infant and the child’s mother in a moment of rage over a lost device. The outcome has left the baby in medical care and a mother frightened, while the father now faces several serious felony charges.
Dalton faces charges of felonious assault, domestic violence by assault, and assault stemming from the brutal attack that began with a domestic argument and escalated into violence against the newborn. Court documents and statements from law enforcement say the altercation started as a dispute and then turned into an alarming assault on the child.
Officers were called to an apartment complex at about 12:30 p.m. on September 19 after the mother placed a 911 call. In fear for her life and her child’s, she hid with her dog inside the leasing office. She told dispatchers that Dalton had “just threatened to kill her and their 1‑month‑old baby.” When police arrived, they found her still in hiding and Dalton outside the apartment. He was arrested immediately. Inside the apartment, they located the infant in his crib, having difficulty breathing.
Paramedics transported the baby to a children’s hospital, where doctors found bleeding in the brain and other damage to the brain. While medical staff believe the child will survive, the full extent of long-term harm remains unknown. In her statement to police, the mother said Dalton’s anger erupted that morning when he couldn’t locate his vaping device. When she refused to help because she was caring for their baby, his rage escalated. He also became upset when he saw that their dog had chewed some tissues in the home.
What followed, she said, was a violent outburst: Dalton threw her to the ground, kicked the dog, threw a fan across the room, and threatened to kill both her and the baby. She also informed investigators that Dalton had strangled her the previous day—suggesting a disturbing pattern of abuse. She described him as someone who had long had anger issues and said the arrival of their child made him easily irritated. Despite such signs, the severity of his violence stunned responding officers.
During his police interview, Dalton denied harming the infant and claimed he had only moved the baby from a bouncy seat to the crib—a statement that stands in stark contrast to both the child’s injuries and the mother’s account.
Police Chief Deputy S. Wilson expressed deep sorrow and resolve in the wake of the incident. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the young child who was the victim of this horrific act,” Wilson said. “We remain hopeful for his full recovery and ask the community to join us in supporting him and his family during this difficult time.” He also commended the police force’s “professionalism, compassion, and steadfast commitment to justice.”
Dalton is currently held at the county correctional facility on a $1 million bond. If he is released, he would be prohibited from contacting either victim, possessing a firearm, consuming alcohol, or making threats. He is slated to appear in court on September 29 for his arraignment, which marks the beginning of the legal process in this deeply troubling case. In the meantime, a fragile infant fights to heal, and a mother seeks protection and redress.
