Pair charged with assaulting Tifton toddler, child in critical condition
TIFTON, Ga. – While two Tifton men sit in the Tift County Jail both charged with felony assault and cruelty to children, a Tifton toddler lies in a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital in critical condition.
Tifton Police have arrested and charged Fabian Deshan Croom, 23, with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, and Jerry Bernard Monfort, 25, with two counts of party to crime of aggravated assault and one count of party to crime of cruelty to children first degree.
All of the charges are felonies.
At approximately 7:20 p.m. Feb. 4, Tifton Police responded to the 1600 block of Carpenter Road regarding a 22-month-old child breathing but unresponsive. Officers on the scene observed visible injuries to the child. In a preliminary investigation Tifton Police detectives determined that some type of physical abuse had occurred.
The toddler, Rahmel Cruz, was initially taken to Tift Regional Medical Center but because he had severe life-threatening injuries, he was transported to a Jacksonville hospital.
His mother, Erika Johnson, said she had left her son in the care of a family member.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tifton Police Detective Sgt. Sydney Saylor at 229-382-3132. An anonymous tip may be submitted using the Tifton PD Tip411 app. Text TIFTONPD and the tip to 847411, or visit www.tifton.net, click tip411, and complete the online form.
By: Frank Sayles JR., Tifton Grapevine
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