Man in custody for assaulting mother of dead child, Port Isabel police say

PORT ISABEL, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a mother, whose baby was found dead hours later at the same residence.

Dennis De La Cruz is facing charges of assault, family violence, according to Port Isabel police.

_{Dennis De La Cruz (Port Isabel Police Department)}

Police say they went to the residence at 5 a.m. for an ambulance call, in which the disturbance was not reported. A female claimed she had fallen and needed medical attention. Chief Lopez added that the 1-year-old girl was still alive at this time.

At 11:30 a.m., the same female made a distress call. When police returned, they found the 1-year-old girl dead, Lopez said.

_{400 block of Martinez St in Port Isabel where a 1-year-old girl was found unresponsive (Photo taken by Gerardo Salinas/ValleyCentral)}

Police told ValleyCentral that De La Cruz, who lived at the residence, is accused of assaulting the baby's mother.

De La Cruz is not facing charges in connection to the baby's death. Lopez added that an autopsy will be performed Monday and that the family is cooperating with the investigation.

De La Cruz was arraigned on the assault charges and his bond was set at $15,000.