Bellingham man arrested for allegedly assaulting a 3-month-old child
A 20-year-old Bellingham man was arrested Thursday, June 18, for allegedly assaulting a child, according to Bellingham police Lt. Claudia Murphy.
Tanner Lee Shutt was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault of a child. Shutt’s first appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Bellingham police began an investigation into Shutt in early June after being contacted by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, which suspected abuse after a 3-month-old child was hospitalized, Murphy said.
A hospital examination of the child found they had a fractured femur, which required the child be taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital for further treatment, Murphy said. It was determined the fracture was of a spiral nature, which is “generally associated with a twisting motion,” Murphy said. Further examination showed the child also had healing rib fractures on two ribs, she said.
Interviews with medical experts and Shutt revealed he had allegedly intentionally assaulted the child by grabbing the child’s leg. It was also determined that Shutt allegedly exhibited a pattern of assaulting the child by squeezing the child too tightly, Murphy said.
Detectives contacted Shutt in the 1900 block of Fraser Street on Thursday and took him into custody without incident, Murphy said.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
