A 19-year-old Charlotte father is behind bars after doctors found his 2-month-old son with a litany of serious injuries, including bruising to the back of the head and 14 fractured ribs. The father, identified as Christian Brooks, was arrested on July 17 in Charlotte and charged with felony child abuse. The infant has been placed in the care of county child-welfare officials while investigators and prosecutors comb through medical records and police reports.
What investigators allege
According to an arrest warrant and local reporting, investigators believe the injuries date back to November 2025 and were first detected when the baby was brought to a hospital in December, triggering a Department of Social Services intake. Per WSOC, the warrant describes significant trauma to the infant’s lower back, in addition to the fractured ribs and bruising on the back of the head.
Confession and polygraph
Both parents initially told detectives they had no idea how the child was hurt, but later sat back down with investigators. Charlotte Alerts News reports that Brooks refused to take a polygraph test and later admitted he had physically disciplined the baby after becoming frustrated when the infant would not stop crying.
Court appearance and charges
Brooks is scheduled to appear in Mecklenburg County court Monday at 1:30 p.m., where prosecutors are expected to outline the felony child-abuse case, WSOC reports. The charge accuses him of intentionally inflicting serious injury. He remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and the investigation is still active.
Legal context
The case falls under state child-abuse statutes and will proceed in Mecklenburg County court. The criminal filing represents the start of formal legal action, not a finding of guilt. County child-welfare staff continue to hold custody of the infant while investigators gather records and prepare the case for upcoming court proceedings.
