OAN’s Avril Elfie
12:30pm – Wednesday, April 17, 2024
A Pennsylvania state police officer has been arrested on suspicion of raping and physically abusing a 13-month-old child.
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On Tuesday, an officer was arrested after an investigation by York Police Department Officer Steve Kyle Cugini, who responded to a report of “severe bruising on a 13-month-old child.”
The infant was taken to Hershey Medical Center in what was described as a crime, which police said occurred sometime between April 11th and 11th.th and April 15thth.
There, Pennsylvania State Police and the Dauphin County Child Abuse Team assessed the infant’s injuries.
The investigation concluded that the girl “suffered broken bones and severe bruising and was the victim of sexual assault,” according to a press release.
Cugini initially blamed the injuries on “diaper rash, a fall, and the family dog,” according to reports citing charging documents. However, during police questioning, the man admitted that he had “inflicted the injuries to her while she was under his care.”
After reports of the arrest surfaced, York Police Chief Michael Muldrow released the following statement: statement confirmed that Cugini is a member of their department.
“It has been learned that an employee of our department has been arrested on suspicion of unlawful and criminal activity that occurred in Dauphin County,” his statement said. “In accordance with our protocol, the individual has been immediately suspended and the city will take appropriate action while the investigation continues.”
“As everyone knows, I’m always going to be the first to fight and advocate for my people. But they also want to know (1) how I feel about my kids and (2) how I feel about them. I also know that I hold my officers to the highest standards when it comes to representing the department and engaging with the community…”
“If the allegations are true,” he said, “we will take swift and decisive action first.”
Cugini was arrested on charges including rape and aggravated indecent assault. He is currently being held in the Dauphin County Jail on $200,000 bail.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages.
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