SHOREWOOD – A man was arrested Saturday morning on a charge of aggravated battery of a child.
About 6 p.m. Friday, Shorewood police were alerted by the Department of Children and Family Services and Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center about a child who was brought to the hospital with severe burns on her hands, Shorewood Deputy Chief Jason Barten said.
Officers learned through questioning the child and her mother that the mother’s boyfriend allegedly was responsible for the injuries. They were able to find him about 10 p.m.
Cedric Rodriguez, 21, was found in his car in Shorewood. Barten said that an officer’s interview with Rodriguez was beneficial to the investigation, and he was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery of a child younger than 13 years old.
Rodriguez was booked into the Will County jail at 1:13 a.m. Saturday and later released at 5:17 p.m. He had to post bond on $125,000.
Police learned that Rodriguez was watching the child when he allegedly injured her, although Barten did not want to give too many details about the alleged crime.
“I won’t go into his justification for it,” Barten said. “The injuries were directly from his care of the child, or lack thereof.”
The child was taken to Loyola University Medical Center for special treatment.
Shorewood police are investigating the injuries.
