Father arrested, accused of nearly beating baby daughter to death

A Santa Ana man is in jail Tuesday after police say he nearly beat his infant daughter to death.

Andres Tafoya, 30, was arrested over the weekend after dropping his severely injured 2-month-old daughter off at a local hospital.

Police said Tafoya was alone with his daughter Friday after his girlfriend — the infant’s mother — left for work. In the mother’s absence, Tafoya allegedly punched the baby multiple times in the head.

When police went to investigate, Tafoya fled and stayed on the streets because he “basically had nowhere to go,” said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Police spotted him Sunday and arrested him. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and willfully causing injury to a child. Bertagna said Tafoya would probably appear in court Wednesday.

The baby remains in critical condition with head and skull injuries.

ALSO:

Woman allegedly coerced into sex by LAPD officers was informant

‘Operation Boo’ sex offender sweep on Halloween yields 10 arrests

Family of boy with replica gun shot dead by deputy wants ‘justice’

[email protected]

Twitter: @josephserna