Police: Local man arrested for 'violently slamming' infant onto bed

POCATELLO — A 29-year-old local man was recently arrested after police say he slammed his 6-month-old baby onto the bed.

Brandon Michael Hendricks, of Pocatello, has been charged with one count of felony injury to a child following the incident, which unfolded in the early morning hours on Sunday, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

Pocatello police were contacted shortly after midnight on Sunday from the child’s mother that her husband, Hendricks, had been drinking before he “violently slammed their 6-month-old daughter onto the bed,” police said.

The mother showed the officers security camera footage from inside the home that showed that the incident occurred around 12:22 a.m. on Sunday, the report says.

Officers received the camera footage, which showed Hendricks pick up the crying baby from the crib, lift her up to the same height of his head and “aggressively slam” the baby down on the bed, according to police.

Officers estimated that the baby’s head traveled roughly two or three feet before violently striking the bed, the report says, adding that officers also noted the baby’s head appears to whip while being slammed.

Officers then observed Hendricks press down on the baby’s torso with such force that it appears the baby lost her breath and stopped crying for approximately four seconds, the report says.

The baby’s mother provided officers with a key to the residence and gave them permission to enter the home to speak with Hendricks, police said.

Inside the home, officers located Hendricks asleep in the bed next to the baby in the crib, noting that he appeared to be intoxicated and passed out as it took several attempts to try and wake him and he did not regain alertness upon waking up, according to the report.

When Hendricks did wake up his speech was slurred and he had trouble keeping his balance, the report says.

Hendricks told officers that nothing happened when questioned, police said. He was subsequently charged, arrested and booked inside the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

He appeared in front of 6th District Magistrate Judge Bryan K. Murray for an arraignment hearing on Monday, during which his bond was set at $50,000. Hendricks posted the bond on Tuesday and was released from jail, court records show.

He is due back in court on Oct. 7 for a preliminary hearing that will involve local prosecutors attempting to prove there is enough evidence against him to elevate the case from the magistrate to district court level for trial.

If convicted of the felony injury to a child charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.