MEDICINE HAT — An 18-month-old girl was in critical condition with head injuries after an alleged assault at a day home in southern Alberta, police said Tuesday.
The girl was taken by air ambulance from Medicine Hat to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary where she was being treated for life-threatening injuries, Staff Sgt. Brent Secondiak said.
A 23-year-old woman, who was taking care of the girl at the private residence, has been charged with aggravated assault and failing to provide the necessities of life.
Police received a call from officials at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Monday about a toddler who had been brought in with serious injuries.
“We conducted an initial investigation (and) interviewed some of the people involved,” said Secondiak.
Officers were still at the home Tuesday and were interviewing people in the area, he said. The girl appeared to be the only child that was being cared for in the home at the time.
“It seems like there’s limited children who went there, so we have no concerns of any other foul play,” said Secondiak, who added that no other children were believed to be at risk.
Secondiak said the facility is licensed by the provincial government and Alberta Children and Youth Services has been notified.
The woman, whom police did not name, was released from custody and is expected to appear in court Sept. 7.