A Chester man was arrested for allegedly assaulting his young daughter, causing her to eventually lose her eyesight and ability to walk.
On March 17, 2010, the Reading Fire Department were dispatched to a home on the 1000 block of Spring Street in Reading for a choking and unresponsive child. When they arrived, they found an injured 26-month-old girl and transferred her to the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. She was then transferred to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
On December 21, 2012, detectives met with doctors at Hershey and learned that the child suffered a massive brain injury. Doctors say there was a skull fracture and a tear in the vein underneath the dura in her head and that she almost died in the operating room. Doctors also told investigators there was ligament twisting in her neck indicating she had been thrown against something. Finally doctors say, the girl suffered eight rib fractures and a tear across her pancreas. The child is currently blind and will never be able to walk due to her injuries.
Doctors told police they did not believe the girl’s injuries were accidental and that the child was likely shaken or slammed against something. Detectives began to investigate and learned that the girl was home alone with her father, Hector Charles Garcia, 23, the day of the incident, according to investigators. Police say Garcia was babysitting the girl while her mother was at work. The girl suffered her injuries while in the custody and care of Garcia, according to police.
On Tuesday, Garcia was arrested by the District Attorney’s Crime Unit. He was arraigned Tuesday night with bail set at $200,000. He is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children. He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of the bail.
