A South Florida man is being accused of child abuse after his girlfriend's son was hospitalized with broken ribs and other injuries.
Quindel Pigatt, 23, was booked into jail Wednesday on an aggravated child abuse charge, according to Miami-Dade County Corrections records.
According to the arrest affidavit, Pigatt was taking care of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son at her Miami Gardens home while she was at work.
Prosecutors say Pigatt called the mother and told her the victim has fallen from a step, but he was okay. When the mother got home, she realized something was wrong with her son and rushed him to the hospital.
The victim had eight fractured ribs, internal bleeding and liver and intestinal issues, prosecutors say. Emergency room doctors told detectives the injuries came from severe child abuse.
The judge in bond court Thursday set Pigatt's bond at $50,000 with house arrest.
Pigatt was out on bond from a previous burglary case, but he will remain in jail pending two criminal cases.
