A fugitive suspected of killing his 1-year-old child was reported at least three times to Hennepin County child protection for abusing the boy and his sibling, public records show.
Brooklyn Park police were called Tuesday night to the 2100 block of 74th Court N. on a report of the child not breathing, authorities said Wednesday. First responders and paramedics administered CPR at the residence, then rushed the boy to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where he died.
Witnesses told police the child's death was due to an assault. The boy's father, Reggie Delanie Harper, 23, fled the residence before first responders arrived, police said.
Harper, who had not been charged as of Wednesday, was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with blue or purple writing and red/black checkered pants. Police are asking anyone who sees him or knows where he is to call 911.
Efforts to reach the boy's mother were not successful Wednesday.
The boy is at least the 57th child to die since 2005 in Minnesota from maltreatment despite the family being known to child protection, the Star Tribune has found.
According to juvenile court records, in January 2012 Hennepin County child protection received a report accusing Harper of hitting the boy's mother in the face while their then 3-week-old son was in the home. Harper was arrested on suspicion of assault. The county closed the case without providing child protection services, records say.
In May 2012, the county received another report again accusing Harper of assaulting his girlfriend, records show. During that incident, Harper allegedly scratched their baby's arm, which Harper denied. The county found Harper and his girlfriend responsible for child abuse and neglect, according to the court records.
