Cops: Derry woman abused toddler after smoking crack cocaine
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A Derry woman is accused of physically abusing a 23-month-old toddler and smoking crack cocaine as the child sat in her lap.
Crystal N. Steele, 28, was arraigned by Hempfield District Judge Tony Bompiani on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment and simple assault and two counts of illegal possession of controlled substance.
The charges are the result of a week-long investigation by state police and Westmoreland Child and Youth Service investigators.
Trooper Jacob Feryus of the Kiski Valley station said authorities received a tip on Feb. 28 via the state child abuse hotline from a person who said Steele hit the child at her Ryan Street home.
Feryus said in court documents that the tipster said Steele hit the child on the head, body and shoulders.
“The witness said (Steele) then pulled the child’s arm behind the victim’s head and the child was screaming and … hearing a ‘pop’ come from the child’s shoulder, causing the child to scream even more, ” Feryus wrote.
The tipster said he called the hotline after Steele ignored his requests to take the child for medical treatment.
Steele eventually took the toddler to Excela Health Latrobe hospital. The child was transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh because of multiple injuries, Feryus said.
A pediatrician at the hospital told police the child suffered a broken arm and multiple bruises. Doctors also told police they discovered traces of cocaine in the child’s blood.
While Steele told authorities that the child’s injuries were from a fall, Feryus said pediatricians said the multiple injuries all over the child’s body “gave all indications it was child abuse.”
Steele admitted smoking crack cocaine while holding the child and admitted repeatedly striking the child after smoking the drug on Feb. 27, Feryus said.
Feryus said a second witness came forward and told police that he saw Steele smoke crack cocaine with the child in her lap.
Bompiani ordered Steele held in the county prison after she failed to post $275,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is March 18 before Derry District Judge Mark Bilik.