According to a press release issued by the State Police, Dayton Harper of Port Ewen was arrested last week after reportedly hurting a 5-year-old child on two occasions. Harper allegedly struck the child and, in a separate incident, threw a toy at the child which lacerated the child's head.
Here's the press release in full:
Investigators from the Ulster County Family Violence Unit report the arrest of a Port Ewen man Thursday following an investigation that the man assaulted a five year old child.
Investigators charged Dayton R. Harper, 31 years of age with two counts of Assault in the second degree (Class D Felony) and four counts of Endangering the welfare of a child (Class A Misdemeanor) The investigation revealed that on 03/05/2011 Harper threw a toy at the five year old and caused a laceration two the head. A three year old child was also in the immediate vicinity but was not injured. In the second incident Harper struck the same five year old and caused bruising.
Harper was arraigned in the Town of Ulster Court before Town Justice and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in Lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $1,500 bond. He is to reappear in the Town of Esopus Court on 03/28/2011 at 6:00 PM.
