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A critically injured 3-year-old girl is at Primary Children's Medical Center, and police have arrested the man they believe caused her injuries. A family member of the 27-year-old suspect told us Thursday night that the little girl is his girlfriend's daughter.
Logan police say Wednesday night, Dallas Derrick and the girl were walking to Logan from Benson to see the girl's mother. "She works here in the Logan area, so they were walking from Benson into the Logan area to surprise her," Lt. Rodney Peterson said.
But when Derrick approached a building near 1000 West and 1700 North with the 3-year-old in his arms, employees who were outside on break noticed something wasn't right. "[She was] bleeding from the nose and mouth and was somewhat unresponsive," Peterson said.
The employees told police it didn't appear Derrick was trying to hide anything, and they say he actually asked them to call an ambulance. They did, and they also called police.
"They identified several areas of concern, which led them to establishing the probable cause, which ultimately led up to the arrest," Peterson said.
Derrick told police that he and the girl were walking through the fields and they fell. He said that was how the girl was injured.
Officers wouldn't tell us whether they believe that story, but they did say the little girl was not dressed for the cold weather.
The girl was stabilized Wednesday night at a nearby hospital then flown to Primary Children's Medical Center. Derrick was arrested and has since been charged with third-degree felony child abuse.
Derrick has had run-ins with the law before for theft, burglary and for escaping official custody two different times.
The family member we spoke with is shocked her brother has been charged with child abuse, but police and prosecutors say there is enough evidence to pursue the charges.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
