Staff Reports
A 19-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man was jailed Wednesday on $25,000 cash bail accused of slapping his 6-month-old son with enough force to cause a blood clot in the baby's brain.
Alex Seeber was arrested by Douglas County sheriff's investigators at Renown Regional Medical Center where the baby was taken by Care Flight.
The baby underwent surgery Wednesday for removal of a 7 mm blood clot.
According to reports, the baby's parents originally told officers Seeber found the baby face down on their mattress.
Seeber reportedly told investigators he and his wife were doing yard work, and the infant was fussing in his baby swing. Seeber said they didn't want to listen to the baby crying or feed him until after they were finished with the yard work, so he carried him in the house.
He said they could monitor the baby from the back yard.
Seeber finally admitted that he slapped the baby on his head because the infant, whom he described as "spoiled" and "stubborn," was "freaking out" and wouldn't stop crying, take food or go to sleep, investigators said.
Seeber said the baby cried even louder after he reportedly struck the child, but he was able to calm him down and put him on the bed. Then, he said, the baby was "nodding off" and seemed to have trouble breathing.
He and his wife took the child to Carson Valley Medical Center where the child was taken by Care Flight to Reno.
Douglas authorities were called to the hospital where they arrested Seeber. He was charged with felony child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm.
He is to appear in East Fork Justice Court this morning.
