Texarkana man accused of injuring girlfriend's baby

TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Texarkana man is still in custody after being accused of injuring his girlfriend's young child, according to Texarkana, Texas, police.

Michael Cridell Jr., 22, is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. He's held in the Bi-State Jail on a $500,000 bond. 

The child is stable but remains in the hospital in serious condition, authorities said. 

Police began an investigation Thursday after being called to CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital when a woman brought in her 3-month-old daughter with a critical head injury.

Texarkana police said doctors determined the baby suffered a skull fracture. Officer Shawn Vaughn says she was immediately airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital.

“We're able to determine that the mother's boyfriend was the sole caretaker during the time that this injury would have had to happen,” said Vaughn.

“Unfortunately, these things become a seem to be becoming more and more common,” he added.

Vaughn says child abuse cases cause deep emotional distress for victims, families and the investigators tasked with solving them.

“You want to do everything you can to protect that child and help bring justice to them as well as the family,” said Vaughn.