RICHLAND, Wash. – A Richland man is facing second degree assault of a child charges after mishandling his infant son and allegedly causing multiple fractured bones, according to court documents.
Court documents say Richland Police arrived at the Kadlec Medical Center on April 7 for a report of an infant with multiple fractured bones.
The child’s parents, one of which being 25-year-old Michael Hubbard, brought him in after feeling a pop in his ankle while changing his diaper. A full body scan found 11 fractures across his legs, ankles and ribs.
Six of the 11 fractures were in the child’s ribs, per a doctor at Kadlec. The doctor said the fractures were healing and were estimated to be between two and three weeks old.
In an interview, the child’s mother said Hubbard had been a stay-at-home father for several months while she was working. She reported that Hubbard got frustrated with their son multiple times a day but never physically abused him.
Police interviewed Hubbard who initially denied hurting, squeezing or shaking his son, though later admitted to squeezing him tightly to try to calm him down.
Court documents say Hubbard admitted to other incidents where he had allegedly injured the child, including pressing down on his son to keep him from squirming and dropping him on a changing table.
Hubbard’s arraignment is set for April 17 at the Benton County Superior Court.
