A 29-year-old Ceres man was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 4 and being charged with throwing his infant stepchild against the wall, breaking bones and nearly killing the baby.

Ceres Police investigators arrested Ezequiel Valenzuela, 29, of Ceres, charging him with willful cruelty and willfully inflicting injury to a child. The arrest came after 11:21 p.m. on Nov. 2 when Valenzuela’s seven-month-old stepchild stopped breathing and he and the baby’s mother began driving the child to the hospital. On the way the couple called 911 and was instructed to stop to be intercepted by paramedics aboard an ambulance. Contact was made and the infant was rushed to a local hospital. The baby was found to have multiple injuries, including broken bones. The baby was transported to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera for treatment of trauma. 

Ceres Police detectives interviewed Valenzuela who said he dropped the child at a home in the 2300 block of Venus Drive. However, the baby’s three-year-old sister told investigators that Valenzuela threw the baby against a wall while they were alone with him. Corroborating evidence led to the arrest. 

Detectives suspect the child had been abused previously. The medical staff reported that the baby had several injuries in various stages of healing.

Child Protective Services have taken protective custody of the baby and the older sister.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Detective Julio Amador at 538-5729.