By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A 23-year-old city man was arrested on charges of first degree child abuse after allegedly beating his infant daughter on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Following an investigation by Pawtucket Police detectives,  Michael J. Patriquin, of Malvern Ave., was arrested later that afternoon. He was arraigned in Providence District Court on Monday and is being held on $100,000 bail, police said.
According to Detectives Sgt. Cory Jackson, Pawtucket Police received a call from a doctor at Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s at around 2:42 p.m. about suspected child abuse. The doctor told police that the infant, who was born on Oct. 7, had been brought to the hospital by her mother and had been admitted with a skull fracture, facial bruising and possible bleeding in the brain.
Jackson said that Patriquin, who is the baby’s father, had allegedly been the last person who was with the baby. However, he said that the incident is still under investigation by detectives.
Jackson said the infant had sustained serious head trauma, including a double skull fracture and facial injuries.
She was released from the intensive care unit on Monday, but remains in serious, but stable condition at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. He said she is expected to recover,but testing is continuing at the hospital.
Jackson said that Patriquin lives on Malvern Avenue with his girlfriend, who is the mother of the victim, along with the victim and the couple’s two-year-old daughter. The state Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) has taken custody of the two-year-old pending further investigation.
Pawtucket Police and DCYF investigators are continuing the investigation and are witholding the name of the mother and two children, Jckson said.
Stephanie Terry, Assistant Director of Child Protective Services for DCYF, cited the ongoing police investigation and said that she couldn’t comment any further about the case.