Police: Father Gives Infant Alcohol In Bottle

Police said a visiting teenage father in southwest Charlotte gave his 3-month-old baby alcohol Monday night.

"I can't even imagine somebody would do something like that to a baby. Gave him alcohol?" said neighbor Broderick James.

Police said the 18-year-old father was visiting the child and the mother when he put brandy into the baby's bottle and then let him drink it. According to investigators, the father told police that he "wanted to get tipsy with his son."

After a scuffle with father, the mother brought the baby to Carolinas Medical Center Pineville at about 7 p.m. where nurses notified police about the alcohol.

Toxicologist Dr. Eric Lavonas, an expert on child health issues, said alcohol and infants can be a dangerous combination.

"Just as with anyone else, the child can pass out. Just like anyone else, a child can have vomiting. And also small children can drop their blood sugars. A few hours after drinking alcohol that can lead to seizures and brain damage," Lavonas said.

Family members said the baby is back home and doing well.

Neighbors still have major questions about a father that could give alcohol to a little baby.

"No normal person would do (anything) like that. A person in their right mind, I wouldn't think, would do anything like that," said neighbor Martha Belton.

Detectives with the youth bureau are investigating the case. They said they want to talk with the child's mother again to get more information about exactly what happened.

Police have not charged the father at this time, but there are several possible charges the father could be facing, including child abuse or child neglect.

Investigators said they plan to meet with the district attorney to discuss other possibilities.