A Jim Thorpe father has been charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child following an incident in which his 27-day-old infant suffered severe head trauma, authorities confirmed.

According to a joint press release from the Jim Thorpe Borough Police Department and the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office, the assault occurred at 398 Chapman St. on Feb. 19.

The case came to light when medical personnel at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital reported the infant’s injuries to Carbon County Children and Youth Services. Hospital staff determined that the child had sustained blunt force trauma to the head and was in critical condition.

Edward Ellis Bailey, 30, was taken into custody and arraigned on felony charges. He is currently being held at the Carbon County Correctional Facility on $100,000 cash percentage bail, according to court documents.

A police criminal complaint filed in the case states that officers were alerted by hospital staff when the infant started having seizures and vomiting. Medical examinations revealed a brain hemorrhage and ischemic brain tissue. The injuries, according to hospital staff, were inconsistent with the explanation provided by Bailey and were consistent with suspected child abuse.

Bailey initially told investigators that he had accidentally dropped the child while descending stairs in his home at approximately 3:36 a.m. on Feb.19.

According to his statement, he fell down three steps while cradling the infant, causing her to fall out of his arms. After placing her back in bed, he said he noticed seizure-like activity at 7:06 a.m. and, along with the child’s mother, transported her to the hospital.

However, during a formal interview with Jim Thorpe police, Bailey admitted to being frustrated by the baby’s crying.

In his written statement, he said, “I couldn’t get her to stop crying, so I lightly dropped her on the bed.” He later described how, while still upset, he attempted to carry the child downstairs quickly but lost his footing.

“Me and the baby fell,” Bailey said.

The infant remains in critical condition, a press release states.

A preliminary hearing for Bailey is scheduled for March 5 before Magisterial District Judge Eric M. Schrantz.

The case remains under active investigation by the Jim Thorpe Borough Police Department, the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pennsylvania State Police.