Judge orders competency exam for Hazel Park father accused of breaking infant's bones
Cody Patterson, 20, will be evaluated at the state's forensic psychiatry center. He is due back in court Dec. 15 for a hearing on the results.
By OCJ Staff
A judge has ordered a competency evaluation for a Hazel Park father charged with child abuse after police say his 4-week-old baby was found with broken bones, The Oakland Press reported.
Cody Christopher Patterson, 20, was referred for the forensic evaluation Tuesday, Oct. 13, at a hearing before 43rd District Judge Brian Hartwell, according to the Oakland Press.
The evaluation will take place at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline. It will produce a report a judge will use to decide whether Patterson can understand the charges and proceedings and help in his own defense, the newspaper reported.
Patterson is scheduled to return to court Dec. 15 for a hearing on the results, the Oakland Press reported.
That is a change from the schedule the Journal reported earlier this week, when a preliminary exam had been tentatively set for Oct. 20. The Oakland Press lists Dec. 15 as his next court date.
Charges are accusations; Patterson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The charges
Patterson is charged with three counts of second-degree child abuse. Each is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, C&G Newspapers reported. He is held in the Oakland County Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond.
Police say Patterson was arrested Oct. 1 at a hospital after officers were called to a Hazel Park home on a report of a baby with a broken arm. Hospital staff found fractures to both arms, both legs and the ribs, and the injuries were in different stages of healing, police said.
According to police, Patterson admitted taking the baby into a bathroom and squeezing and twisting the infant's limbs, telling officers he gets frustrated and cannot cope with the baby crying.
Police: investigation continues
Hazel Park Police Chief William Hamel told C&G he did not know whether the baby is expected to make a full recovery.
"We are still conducting interviews and working with Child Protective Services," Hamel told C&G. "No further comment while this case proceeds through the court."
Patterson's attorney, Michael J. McCarthy, did not respond to C&G's request for comment.
This story uses reporting from The Oakland Press and C&G Newspapers.