AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — An Airway Heights couple is facing numerous charges after police say they abused the woman’s child.
The Airway Heights Police Department (AHPD) opened the case after a CPS worker reported a seven-year-old boy with bruising and extreme weight loss at Sacred Heart Hospital. AHPD arrested the child's mother and boyfriend for allegedly assaulting and neglecting the child. KREM 2 has chosen not to identify the couple to protect the child’s privacy.
"We take all complaints, especially on children very seriously," Airway Heights Lieutenant Jacob Keith said. "It's a very extensive investigation that has a lot of moving parts. And that involves a lot of interviews with forensic investigators."
According to AHPD, a school counselor reported the child's injuries, saying he had unexplained bruises on his face and had lost a significant amount of weight over the winter break.
"Walls are pretty thin. I figured we would have heard them if there was a child and no, we never seen anybody," neighbor Ryan Herrington said. "In a case like that you think that you might hear something going on, but we never heard anything so it was pretty mind boggling."
“OSI Detachment 322 is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the children in our shared community. We are proud to stand together with the Airway Heights Police Department in ensuring justice for those who choose to harm society’s most vulnerable members in such a reprehensible manner,” said Nick Linsalata, OSI Special Agent in Charge, Detachment 322.
The couple was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges including assault of a child, criminal mistreatment and unlawful imprisonment.
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