A Chandler infant had her eye swollen shut and faced bruised when she was allegedly struck by her intoxicated father.
Chandler Police report the child's mother returned home after hearing that her 7-month-old daughter couldn't open her eye.
When she got home, she saw the child's eye swollen shut and bruising across her face. She confronted her boyfriend, 42-year-old Eric Nicholas Cicalese, about the injuries and was told it was just 'pink eye.'
The mother took the child to a medical facility who confirmed her suspicions that the girl suffered "non-accidental trauma." Medical workers also noticed swelling and bruising on both of the girl's arms.
Cicalese later reportedly admitted to police that he was the only adult home with the girl and her four siblings at the time. He also said he was intoxicated at the time and doesn't remember many of the details.
The other children in the home reported to police that they heard slapping sounds coming from the bedroom that Cicalese and the baby were in at the time.
Cicalese also allegedly admitted to leaving the five children, age’s 7-months to 9-years, home alone while he went out to purchase alcohol. One of the children told police that Cicalese took money given to her from her grandmother to buy the alcohol.
Cicalese was located by police later that afternoon in a Chandler motel where he surrendered after a two-hour standoff.
Cicalese is being held without bond on child abuse charges.
