#Bridgeport, CT – Nov. 20, 2013 – A 22-year-old woman was arrested on child endangerment charges in connection with the physical abuse of her 5-year-old son by his father.
Jarelis Lugo, of Sylvan Avenue, was charged with risk of injury to a minor. Her bond was set at $50,000.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation in which the father, Daquon Gomillion, 22, was charged with multiple counts of first-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor in connection with physical assaults of their son.
He remains jailed on $750,000 bond.
Lugo was arrested by warrant today and charged with risk of injury.
When initially questioned by police, she stated that her son’s significant injuries, which were in various degrees of healing, were accidental. She stated that the injuries occurred when he fell in a pool, repeatedly fell off his bike and she stated in general that the boy “falls a lot.”
She subsequently acknowledged that the injuries resulted from ongoing physical assaults by the child’s father. She was aware of the abuse but did not report it.
Detective Dave De Feo investigated the case. Detectives Bobby Martin and Eric King served the warrant this morning.
Debra Greenwood, the CEO of the Center for Woman and Families in Bridgeport, said parents – or anyone in the community — who see any form of child abuse have an obligation to report it.
“We need to be the ones to protect children,” she said. “Children don’t have the ability to pick up the phone and tell someone.”
The center operate a 24-hour hotline: 203-384-9559.