Man arrested after child's x-ray shows multiple fractures

Sheriff's investigators Saturday arrested Justin Alexander Gehrke 26 of Kilgore after a medical examination of his 3 month old infant child revealed multiple skull fractures. The infant child remains hospitalized at a Dallas hospital in critical condition.

On Saturday April 17 at 12: 19 pm deputies were sent to a medical assistance call for service at 1773 Sprinks Chapman Rd., near Kilgore, Captain Mike Claxton said today. Deputies arrived and found that Champion EMS EMT's were transporting an infant child to Good Shepherd Medical Center whom had stopped breathing.

"The sheriff's office received information from Good Shepherd Medical Center indicating that the infant had been assaulted based on medical personnel identifying head trauma injuries during an examination", Claxton said. The child was air ambulance transferred from Longview to the Dallas Children's Hospital on Saturday were the child remains hospitalized in critical condition.

"Investigators interviewed Gehrke Saturday afternoon and he confessed to causing the head trauma to his child", Claxton said. Gehrke was charged by a probable cause for arrest without a warrant affidavit prepared by Investigator Chris Miller with the offense of Injury to a child, causing serious bodily injury; a 1st degree felony. "Gehrke had a misdemeanor assault warrant that had previously been filed against him which was served", Claxton said.

Investigators continued to work the case into Saturday night. Gehrke was arraigned Sunday morning by Judge Sam Lawson. Lawson set a $ 50,000.00 bond for the injury to a child case and a $1,000.00 bond on the assault case. Gehrke remains in custody today.