A 3-year-old child is in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Seattle -- Yakima Police say the baby was assaulted by the mother's 27-year-old boyfriend on Monday.

Police spokesman Mike Bastinelli says Michael Briceno told police he was watching the boy while the mother was at work and that the baby was injured after choking on a Pop Tart. But Bastinelli tells KIT News: "We're investigating this as an abuse case. There was visible bruising on the little boy's face and body."

Bastinelli says the boyfriend told police the bruising was caused by performing the Heimlich maneuver on the baby while he was choking. However, Bastinelli says there's evidence that the child had been abused for a period of time at the Rock Avenue home. Another child has been removed from the home.

The boyfriend was arrested Monday night by sheriff's deputies while driving on Highway 97 in the Lower Valley. He's being held on a charge of first-degree assault of a child.

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