Davenport woman charged with child endangerment

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By Kurt Allemeier | Thursday, August 2, 2007 11:59 PM CDT | () comments

A Davenport woman charged with waiting three days last month to get medical help for her 2-year-old son who police say suffered a severe beating is scheduled for trial Sept. 17.

Lizbeth Garcia, 24, of 1630 W. 42nd St., is charged with child endangerment with serious injury. When she called for medical assistance for her son on July 7, she told police the injuries were caused by her boyfriend.

Herman Carl Morris, 27, who is wanted for questioning in the incident, remains at large. He is also wanted on a warrant out of Scott County for second-degree sex abuse, false imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm and assault with intent to commit sex abuse for an incident in November 2006. Morris, also known as James Dozier and James Williams, is wanted on a federal fugitive from justice warrant.

Garcia was arrested when the toddler was found unresponsive by officers and emergency personnel called to her apartment.

When police arrived, the boy’s face was so bruised that his eyes were swollen shut, police said. The boy had extensive bruising and signs of trauma all over his body. Garcia said the injuries occurred three days before she called for medical attention because she was worried that the Iowa Department of Human Services would get involved.

The boy was taken to University Hospitals in Iowa City and has since been released. He and a 4-year-old brother have been placed by Iowa Department of Human Services with family members.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.