Man abducts daughter, charged with domestic violence

Man accused of domestic violence, taking daughter from hospital Police officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are attempting to sort out a child custody dispute that appears to have gone horribly awry. Authorities report that a 26-year-old man is facing allegations of assault in connection with a domestic violence incident during which he absconded with his own daughter. Officers say that the incident seems to be related to a child custody dispute that occurred between the mother and father of the child; those two are not married. The father in this case asserts his claim to his child, saying that he has legal and physical custody of his 7-year-old daughter. It appears that the defendant took the girl from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The man is accused of assaulting the child’s mother at the hospital, though that woman did not require hospitalization for minor injuries suffered during the fight. Authorities say that the child was returned safely without any injuries. She was evaluated at UPMC Children’s Hospital after the alleged abduction; there, she was reunited with her mother. The child’s biological father reportedly returned to a police station with the girl less than three hours after allegedly spiriting her away from the hospital. He was accompanied by two female family members, who argued that the man should have custody of his daughter. Child custody cases are often fraught with disputes and difficulty. In some cases, parents who act on emotion may face accusations of bodily injury or even domestic violence charges because of their actions. Further, some parents may benefit from falsifying claims of domestic violence, which could help them during child custody proceedings. For that reason, decision-makers in this case should proceed with caution and work carefully to determine whether the man was entitled to custody of the girl. Criminal defendants in such situations may benefit from the assistance of a team of attorneys, who can help them learn more about their legal rights under existing child custody orders.