Ogden man in jail after allegedly shaking 8-week-old baby

OGDEN, Utah — Police say a 20-year-old man, arrested on Monday, shook an 8-week-old baby on multiple accounts. 

According to the probable cause statement, police responded to a report of an infant suffering cardiac arrest on Saturday. The probable cause statement also says the infant was in the care of the father, David Harder. 

The infant was transported to Primary Children’s Hospital in critical condition. 

After speaking with medical staff at the hospital, law enforcement officials learned the baby had suffered a skull fracture and was experiencing brain bleeding. Medical experts also informed police that the infant had other brain injuries that appeared to be older.

Police then interviewed Harder.

Harder told police that he had allegedly shook the infant one other time between the baby’s birthday and the incident on Saturday. 

Furthermore, the probable cause statement says it is unknown if the 8-week-old baby will survive.

Harder was booked into the Weber County Jail under suspicion of two counts of intentional aggravated child abuse.  It is a second-degree felony. 

“The defendant is from out of state and can flee if released,” the arresting officer said in the probable cause statement. “The defendant has been suicidal since this incident and would be a danger to himself if released.”

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