Bentleyville man charged in violent assault on toddler
A Bentleyville man is behind bars after police allege he brutally attacked a 2-year-old Belle Vernon girl he was babysitting because she was crying.
Joshua Nathaniel Tannous, 19, of 106 Piersol Ave. was charged Friday with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person following the alleged assault on Tuesday.
“It’s a bad one,” Southwest Regional police Chief John D. Hartman said. “He didn’t use his fists, but he shook and slammed and dropped the child, all because she was crying.”
According to investigating Officer Stephen T. Schwartz, police became involved in the investigation after being contacted by physicians at UPMC-Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.