Everett man held in case of hurt child

Published 11:43 am Thursday, September 27, 2007

EVERETT — An Everett man arrested for investigation of first-degree assault involving a 1-year-old boy maintained Wednesday that the child’s broken bones and head injury were caused by an accidental fall.

However, a judge ruled there was probable cause to hold Matthew P. Christiansen, 31.

Christiansen was arrested Monday. Everett detectives allege he was babysitting the 1-year-old on Sept. 13 when the boy suffered a broken jaw, cracked ribs and a fractured arm. The boy also had bleeding in his skull and multiple bruises. The man’s wife called 911 after she returned home to find the child unconscious, according to a police affidavit.

A doctor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle told investigators the child’s injuries didn’t appear to be accidental. The broken jaw likely was the result of someone punching the boy in the face, the injuries had happened over time and weren’t consistent with a fall, according to court records.

Christiansen told investigators he was carrying the child when he tripped and fell, causing the boy to tumble out of his arms and down concrete stairs.

His attorney on Wednesday argued that the doctor was not provided all the details about the boy’s fall. If she had, she would have concluded that the boy’s injuries were a result of Christiansen accidentally losing his grip on the child and trying to stop the boy’s fall by putting his arm and foot out, attorney Anthony Howard said.

“It was a tragic accident,” he said.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tammy Bayard argued that the boy’s injuries were not from one incident. He had multiple injuries that occurred over time, she said. Christiansen had babysat the boy at least three other times before the child was rushed to the hospital Sept. 13, court records show.

“He is a danger to children,” Bayard said.

The boy’s parents were at Wednesday’s hearing. Bayard said the couple was asking the judge to set bail higher than the $250,000 recommended by the prosecutor. Judge Roger Fisher ordered Christiansen held on $100,000. Christiansen also is ordered to not have any contact with children or to leave the state.

Another man, 27, who was arrested in a separate assault case on a 2-year-old boy didn’t appear before Fisher on Wednesday. He bailed out of jail late Tuesday night. He had been scheduled to appear before Fisher on Tuesday but that hearing was delayed a day because his attorney couldn’t be in court. He bailed out before prosecutors could ask for a higher bail to be set.

He was also was arrested Monday for investigation of first-degree assault of a child. Everett detectives believe he broke a 2-year-old boy’s leg on Sept. 12.

The man told investigators that he grabbed the toddler’s leg and arm but doesn’t remember how the child was hurt. He said that it was possible he blacked out because of diabetes.

The boy’s mother and the man took the child to The Everett Clinic after his leg became swollen. Doctors concluded that the spiral fracture and the multiple bruises covering the boy’s body were the result of abuse.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.