SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — An Old Forge man is facing charges after a 5-month-old child suffered abusive head trauma and a traumatic brain injury that required emergency surgery, according to the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office.
Steven Brownlee is charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and related offenses.
Investigators said Brownlee called 911 on Aug. 28 to report the child was unresponsive. The child was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center with an extensive brain bleed and bruising to both legs and the back of the neck before being transferred to Danville for emergency neurosurgery.
A pediatric abuse team later determined the infant’s injuries were caused by physical abuse, authorities said. Detectives said Brownlee was the child’s sole caregiver when the injuries occurred.
Authorities allege Brownlee fled to Tupelo, Mississippi after the incident. He was taken into custody there Sept. 9 with help from the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and Mississippi.
Brownlee remains jailed pending extradition to Lackawanna County.