Bartlesville Man Faces Child Abuse By Injury Charge

The Washington County District Attorney has charged a Bartlesville man with child abuse by injury. Richard Buzzell, Jr., 45, was arrested after Bartlesville Police were called to the Jane Phillips Medical Center on August 27.

According to a police affidavit, a hospital security guard witnessed Buzzell hit and slap a toddler several times. The guard told officers he was watching hospital surveillance video when he saw Buzzell grab the 2 ½-year-old boy, slap him in the face and chest then throw him into a car.

The affidavit states at one point Buzzell looked around to see if anyone was watching. It says he then took the child into the emergency room where the boy's mother was being treated.

A judge ordered Buzzell held on $40,000 bond and ordered him back to court on September 6.