The Arkansas City Police Department arrested an Ark City man Tuesday in connection with suspected child abuse and endangerment of a child, according to a news release from the ACPD Thursday afternoon.
Eric Christopher Brown, 37, was arrested on suspicion of two felony counts each of abuse of a child and criminal use of weapons, as well as one felony count of aggravated endangering a child.
On Dec. 9, Brown was a victim of a pellet gun attack near Geuda Springs and 28-year-old Cory Brawley was charged earlier this month with attempted murder, attempted aggravated kidnapping, and three other felony charges in Sumner County District Court in Wellington.
He also was arrested on suspicion of one felony count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stimulant, three misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of marijuana and possession of a stimulant.
According to the ACPD case log Thursday, methamphetamine was found.
Brown was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail on a $76,000 bond through Cowley County District Court in Ark City. He remained in custody at the time of this release.
Officers were dispatched Jan. 5 to South Central Kansas Medical Center for a report of a 20-month-old child who was brought in to the emergency room with severe burns. Brown brought in the child.
SCKMC emergency personnel reported the injuries to law enforcement, due to their severity and suspicious nature.
The responding officers began an investigation and interviewed Brown at that time.
A search warrant was obtained and executed at Brown’s residence, which is located at 617 N. First St. An illegal firearm and items relating to drug use were located and confiscated as evidence.
The child victim was transported to a Wichita hospital, where he still is being treated for severe burns and remains as a patient at this time.
In consultation with the child’s medical care team, police determined the cause of the burns was not consistent with the narrative of the accident, as Brown reported it to them during his interview.
He was contacted again by officers on Tuesday, arrested, and found to be in possession of more illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.
