Navy dad accused of biting newborn son

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Portsmouth Police have charged a man with abusing his 11-day-old son while the newborn was in an intensive care unit.

Jan Clark with the Portsmouth Police Department said officers were called to the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in the 300 block of Effingham Street on Feb. 1 for a report of possible abuse.

There, they learned sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., the newborn received bruises to his body while in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit. The newborn had visible contusions to his back and face, Clark said.

After further investigation, police arrested the newborn’s father, Matthew Wayne Strawn, 21, of Portsmouth, and charged him with one count of felony child abuse and one count of felonious assault. Strawn allegedly bit his child.

A hospital spokesperson told WAVY.com the child is now in good condition and was taken home by his mother.

On the WAVY TV 10 Facebook page,  several people questioned how the alleged assault was able to happen while in NICU. The Naval Medical Center responded on WAVY's Facebook page with the following:

"The family was in a "Rooming In" room -- a private hospital room away from the NICU to spend some alone time together and bond. When staff checked on them, the baby was removed and authorities called."

The Naval Medical Center told WAVY News' Stephanie Harris that Strawn works at the medical center but does not perform medical tasks. He serves in an administrative position and there has been a restraining order filed against him saying he can not go near his son. 

Strawn has been released on a personal recognizance bond. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is also investigating the incident.

He is scheduled to be in court next month.