TACOMA -- A woman has been charged with assault of a 4-year-old child after allegedly pushing him off a bed and throwing him to the floor.
According to Pierce County charging documents, the boy's mother took the 4-year-old to Mary Bridge Children's hospital in Tacoma after discovering her son had two black eyes, and bruising all over his legs and back. The mother told sheriff's deputies that the boy lived with his father and his father's girlfriend.
The boy initially told investigators he had fallen off his bike. But when his mother told him to be truthful, charging papers show, he said his father's girlfriend, 25-year-old Sandy Figueroa Arriagia, threw him to the floor.
Detectives interviewed the boy's older brother, who said that the boy was on a bed when Arriagia pushed him off the bed. The 4-year-old's head hit part of the bed, and his eyes closed. The boy's older brother felt the 4-year-old's head, he told detectives, and felt a soft squishy spot like "Play-Doh."
The young boy also alleged Arriagia choked the victim on multiple occasions. Arriaiga denies ever abusing the boy.
Arriagia is charged with second-degree child assault.