On August 9, 2014,
at approximately 5:30 a.m., Meridian Township police officers responded to
child abuse complaint at Sparrow Hospital.
An 8 week-old baby suffered substantial injuries and was admitted to the
hospital for treatment.
On August 13, 2014,
the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office issued a three count warrant in connection
with this incident charging Richard Allen Croad-Messer, a 23 year-old Haslett
man with two counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree and one count of
Assault by Strangulation. Croad-Messer was arrested by the Meridian Township Police
Department.
On August 13, 2014, Croad-Messer
was arraigned at the 55th District Court on all three charges. Bond was set at
$500,000 cash surety. He was remanded to the Ingham County Jail awaiting a preliminary
hearing.
This incident
remains under investigation by the Meridian Township Police Department. People
with information about this crime are asked to contact the Meridian Township
Police Department at (517) 853-4800, CrimeStoppers at (517) 483- STOP, or
submit an anonymous tip through the Department’s social media sites.
