Police: West Valley man beat girlfriend, choked young boy

West Valley City police have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly repeatedly beating his girlfriend and attempting to strangle her 5-year-old son.

Sgt. Jason Hauer said the man was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of a second-degree felony child abuse; third-degree felony counts of domestic violence, domestic violence in the presence of a child and child neglect; and a misdemeanor count of possessing of a weapon.

He remained behind bars Thursday in lieu of $2,365 bail.

Police had originally been called to a residence at the American Mobile Home Park near 3100 S. Redwood Road on July 25 to investigate child abuse allegations.

Officers allegedly noted several bruises on the boy's eyes, cheeks, nose and forehead, as well as "marks on the child's neck that appeared consistent with those caused by strangulation, and other bruises in different stages of healing on the child's back, ribs, and arms," Hauer stated.

The boy was transported to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City where doctors admitted him for treatment of an acute subdural hematoma, or bleeding on the brain.

The child was later released to the custody of the Utah Department of Child and Family Services.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims