Kentucky Father Steven Davis Charged With First-Degree Criminal Abuse After Alleged Hospital Incident Involving Toddler

RICHMOND, Ky. — A 20-year-old Kentucky man is accused of abusing his 1-year-old son inside a hospital room in Richmond, according to arrest records.

Steven Davis was charged with first-degree criminal abuse involving a child age 12 or younger, jail records show. He was taken into custody Thursday and booked into the Madison County Detention Center.

According to an arrest citation, the incident occurred Feb. 4 at Baptist Health Richmond, about 30 miles southeast of Lexington. Authorities said Davis was at the hospital with his son while his fiancée was receiving treatment in the facility’s Clinical Decision Unit, which is designated for emergency mental health services.

Police allege the toddler ran out of the hospital room and Davis forcibly pulled him back inside by the arm. Investigators said Davis then dragged the child around the room on multiple occasions, at one point twisting the boy’s arm and later slamming him into a chair.

The citation states Davis attempted to give the child a bottle. When the toddler continued crying, Davis allegedly threw the bottle across the room. Authorities said the child gagged and struck his head on a chair.

Steven Davis has been arrested on suspicion of child abuse offences

“As the child continued crying, the defendant pushed a blanket and his fingers inside the child’s mouth and down his throat,” the arrest document states.

Richmond police reviewed hospital surveillance footage as part of the investigation, authorities said.

Court records show Davis posted a $10,000 bond and was released Friday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Madison County Circuit Court.

It was not immediately clear whether Davis has retained an attorney.