November 7, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Kent father charged with abusing his infant twins
A 24-year-old Kent man accused of injuring his infant twins has been charged with two counts of second-degree child assault, domestic-violence.
Jason M. Dodd was booked into the King County Jail on Tuesday and ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
According to criminal charges, which were also filed on Tuesday, Kent police began investigating Dodd after his seven-week-old son was taken to Seattle Children’s hospital on Nov. 1. The baby’s mother had called 911 after finding him “spitting up blood and gagging” in the middle of the night.
The infant was later transferred to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, according to criminal charges.
King County Senior Deputy Prosector Cecelia Gregson wrote in charges that a doctor said the infant boy could have died “because he bled so much.” State Child Protective Services officials were contacted and a medical evaluation was performed on the boy’s twin sister, who was found to have “acute” rib fractures as “the result of intentional trauma,” charges said.
Kent police Detective Steve Kelly interviewed Dodd on Friday and during the interview Dodd said he had applied possibly five to six pounds of pressure to his son’s face after the child had a crying fit, charges said. Dodd said he also shook and squeezed both babies “on multiple occassions,” charging documents said.
Dodd told police that when he squeezed his infant daughter he once heard “a pop,” charges said.
In seeking the high bail, Gregson also requested that Dodd not have any contact with either infant.
Comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: child abuse, Kent Police Department, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
More from The Blotter
- May 20 - 4:41 PM 120 aboard burning Seattle-based fishing boat are safe
- May 20 - 3:57 PM City to appeal ruling in lawsuit over 2009 Seattle police shooting
- May 20 - 3:00 PM Bail set at $25,000 for NBA’s Terrence Williams in gun case
- May 20 - 12:00 PM King County cops on the lookout for seat belt, cellphone violations
- May 20 - 11:45 AM Tacoma brothers, 17 and 15, plead guilty to killing teen
About The Today File
Trending with readers
On Facebook
Recent Activity
Multimedia




