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Man struck 1-year-old for waking him up then abandoned family at park, SAPD says

Man was charged with injury to a child, records show

James Salazar has been charged with injury to a child with the intent to cause bodily injury, records show. Image: Bexar County Jail (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man has been arrested after he allegedly struck a 1-year-old child several times, causing a scratch and swelling on his face, according to police.

Investigators said the incident happened on Sunday while a family was at a park and the 1-year-old boy was asleep in the back seat of a vehicle.

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The child’s mother and the suspect, identified by SAPD as 24-year-old James Salazar, had fallen asleep in the front seat, police said, and they awoke when the child began to cry.

The child’s cries “awakened the defendant, who became angry,” the arrest warrant affidavit states.

Police said Salazar reached back and struck the child with an open hand several times across the face “in an attempt to get him to stop crying.”

The boy’s mother stopped Salazar, opened her door to check on the boy, and picked him up.

That’s when, police said, Salazar drove off and left the woman and boy behind.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and booking records show he was arrested late Sunday.

He has been charged with injury to a child with the intent to cause bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a vehicle, booking records with the Bexar County Jail show. His bond has been set at $14,000.

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About the Author
Rebecca Salinas headshot

Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.

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