John Weatherford was being held at the Thurston County Jail Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree assault. A Thurston County Superior Court judge set Weatherford’s bail at $50,000 during a court hearing Wednesday.
The infant was treated Tuesday at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. Lacey Police Lt. Phil Comstock said the infant’s injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Weatherford has a prior juvenile conviction for first-degree rape of a child, court papers state.
Comstock said Lacey police were dispatched to Providence St. Peter Hospital Tuesday because doctors believed the infant’s injuries were inconsistent with Weatherford’s story of how they occurred. Weatherford said his daughter was injured after she accidentally fell off a table at a home off of Fifth Way, Comstock added.
The father eventually gave a statement that his daughter was injured after he grabbed her by the legs out of “frustration,” Comstock said. According to court papers, Weatherford said he was agitated due to lack of sleep, the baby’s continuous crying and “his lack of ADHD medication.”
Weatherford was then arrested and booked by Lacey detectives, Comstock said.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5445 jpawloski@theolympian.com
