Father is sought in stabbing of infant

Jen Lawson and Judy Odierna

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

Police this morning were searching for a man in his mid-20s who allegedly stabbed his 2-month-old son in the neck with a metal fingernail file Thursday night, Metro Police said.

Roberto Rodriguez and his girlfriend, the mother of the infant, were arguing in a Jeep parked in front of their home in the 1000 block of Griffith Avenue at about 10:40 p.m. when "the argument turned violent, and the next thing you know, the boyfriend stabbed the baby," Officer Jose Montoya said.

Rodriguez jumped out of the Jeep and sped away in a Dodge Neon. Minutes later, he hit another car in the 1100 block of Reno Avenue but drove away, Montoya said.

Investigators were still trying to determine whether the child was stabbed accidentally.

It is not unusual children to become third-party victims of domestic violence, Sgt. Rick Barela said.

"Domestic violence situations are very dynamic, violent and extremely emotional," Barela said. "The children that are injured are incidental to the fight."

After the stabbing, the baby's aunt called 911, and the baby was taken to Sunrise Hospital. Montoya said the baby underwent surgery this morning and is listed in stable condition.

"The baby should be OK," Montoya said.

Barela said incidents in which children are injured are some of the toughest for officers who handle them.

"These situations are traumatic," Barela said. "People forget we are fathers and mothers too."

Carol Stillian, a manager at Family Services, said children are not often seriously injured during these situations but when they are the case would most likely be referred to Family Services.

"More than likely when there is domestic violence and a child is injured we get the referrals," said Stillian. "Children aren't injured very often but they are impacted for sure if they are caught up in it directly or indirectly."

Police are searching for Rodriguez. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call police at 229-3111 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.