JAYLIN CHAVIS - 2 months old/ Accused: Grandparents; Robert Bryson and Toni Chavis - Rock Hill PA

Police: Grandparents were arrested in light of new information

Published: July 30, 2012 Updated 5 hours ago
By Jonathan McFadden and Anna Douglas — The Herald

ROCK HILL — The grandparents of a 2-month-old baby who died in May are charged with neglect after a police investigation produced evidence for prosecution, authorities say.

Robert Eugene Bryson, 58, and Toni Chavis, 56, both of 844 Willowbrook Ave., were arrested last week and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, according to Rock Hill Police documents.

Jaylin Chavis died May 7 of positional asphyxiation, said York County Coroner Sabrina Gast.

Toni Chavis is accused of “willfully and unlawfully” misleading Department of Social Services workers about “the other possible caregivers in her residence,” according to a police arrest warrant. She allowed Bryson to “watch the infant while he consumed alcohol,” and she failed to act after seeing Jaylin “was at substantial risk of physical injury,” the warrant states.

Police say Bryson put the baby at “unreasonable risk of harm” by placing Jaylin behind him on a loveseat, according to his arrest warrant.

Police arrested Chavis on Wednesday and Bryson on Friday. Bryson and Chavis were released on a bond of $5,000 each.

Rock Hill Police Lt. Brad Redfearn said an officer who handles child and elderly abuse cases was assigned to the case after police found the baby girl dead in her grandparents’ home early on May 7.

Police records show that officials responded to the home around 1 a.m. after receiving a call about an unconscious infant. Paramedics and Rock Hill firefighters responded and found Jaylin unconscious and not breathing.

The girl’s grandparents said they were watching Jaylin for their 19-year-old daughter – Jaylin’s mother – when they noticed Jaylin wasn’t breathing, reports state.

Police said it appeared that Bryson was sleeping with Jaylin in the love seat when he rolled over her.

In May, officials said Jaylin’s death appeared accidental and no charges were filed. Gast said at the time there was no obvious trauma.

“After a lengthy investigation” and consulting with the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Redfearn said officials determined that they had enough evidence to prosecute Bryson.

Police would not detail the evidence they had to make an arrest.

The solicitor’s office did not release details related to evidence but said the investigation included discovery of details not “readily apparent” when police found the child lifeless on May 7, said Willy Thompson, deputy solicitor.

This is Bryson’s 14th arrest since 1975. Prior arrests range from driving under the influence to assault and battery.

When reached by telephone Monday afternoon, Bryson referred all questions to his lawyer, who could not be reached. Chavis could not be reached.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/07/30/4149937/grandparents-charged-in-rock-hill.html#storylink=cpy

Good for LE. I'm glad they are pursuing this as no parent or grandparent should leave a baby in the care of someone drinking especially when they have a drinking problem. With all the arrests the grandfather has, he definately has a problem