By Cynthia Koons
Mauricio Vasquez, 28, of 42-37 165th St. in Flushing, was also charged with assault and reckless endangerment and was scheduled to be arraigned in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens late Tuesday.
An employee of Dante's Cleaning Service in Floral Park, Vasquez was described by his boss as an excited new father.
“He was very happy to have a baby,” Dante Rodriguez said. “As long as I know, he's been very responsible for the baby. He's been worried about the baby.”
The newborn was brought to Flushing Hospital by his parents on Sunday at 2 p.m. and transported from there to North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, where he was listed in critical condition.
According to Newsday, the baby suffered from fractures in his skull, broken ribs and bleeding in the brain. The mother, Vanessa Ocampo, 20, said she was in a relationship with Vasquez for me than two years, according to Newsday.
After an investigation, the father was considered the suspect and arrested Monday, police said. The Special Victims Squad of the New York Police Department and district attorney's office handled the investigation, an officer in the 109th Precinct said.
A spokeswoman for the city Administration of Children's Services said her agency had not been called to Vasquez's residence for any prior incidents.
“As far as the child welfare side, we will make an investigation and if allegations are determined to be substantiated, we will make a case in our system,” said Elysia Carnevale, an ACS spokeswoman.
She said that she could not yet foresee whether the baby would be taken from his parents.
“It's difficult to determine at this point,” Carnevale said. “We would make a full investigation and determine if a removal is in the best interest of the child.”
Rodriguez said he stopped at the hospital Monday night and saw the baby and his mother.
“She was very sad with the situation, but we never talked about how that happened,” he said. “I just stopped by to give her my support, to see what I could do for her – just to support her.”
He said the baby was sleeping when he arrived and that he did not know much more about his condition. He said the news came as a surprise.
“We are in shock,” he said. Vasquez “was very excited with the baby. He was very happy waiting for the baby.”
He said Vasquez was a Colombian native who was an honest worker.
“He was friendly (and) responsible. He never came drunk,” he said. “I never heard from him any problems with drugs or anything – nothing.”
Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
