Kershaw father arrested after 4-month-old found suffering from ‘shaking baby syndrome’

A Kershaw man was charged with unlawful conduct toward his 4-month-old child on April 30 by the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.

Alvin Davis IV, 20, was arrested after a child abuse physician at Palmetto Health Richland Children’s Emergency Room contacted authorities about a 4-month-old infant that had been admitted for treatment on April 29 because of head injuries, said Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews. The physician said the infant was suffering from symptoms associated with “shaking baby syndrome,” which resulted in bleeding on the brain, Sheriff Matthews said.

Davis was transported to the Kershaw County Detention Center where he remains pending a bond hearing, said Sheriff matthews, adding Davis has no previous arrest record.

The injured infant, as well as a 15-month-old sibling, was placed in emergency protective custody, said Sheriff Matthews, adding the situation at the residence – on Haile Gold Mine Road in Kershaw – turned ugly when KCSO deputies and a DSS official arrived and attempted to locate and remove the child.

When the 15-month-old male sibling was removed from the home for his safety, a crowd of 20-30 family and friends gathered and attempted to block deputies from leaving the residence, according to Sheriff Matthews, who said deputies were eventually able to get the situation under control and departed with the child, who was released to DSS.