Full Notification

On Thursday, November 29th, 2018, San Leandro Police detectives arrested 23-year-old Johnathan Davis eight days after a 6-year-old boy in his care sustained a life-threatening head injury.
 
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018 when Davis and his girlfriend, the mother of the injured boy brought the unconscious child to the San Leandro Kaiser Hospital. Doctors there immediately began life-saving measures and discovered that the boy was suffering from a traumatic head injury.
 
Soon after arriving at Kaiser Hospital, the boy was rushed via ambulance to Children's Hospital in Oakland where he underwent emergency brain surgery. The child remains unconscious and in critical condition at this time.
 
Davis, who was caring for the child while his mother was at work stated that the boy fell down a flight of stairs. However, the injury and symptoms were not consistent with a fall according to medical professionals.
 
Davis and his girlfriend have been dating and living together for approximately 6 months. There are two children living with them in the home, the 6 yr old boy belonging to the girlfriend and Davis' 15-month-old daughter from a previous relationship. The boy's mother works in the Peninsula and is routinely left in the care of Davis.
 
San Leandro Police detectives were called to the hospital to investigate the mysterious head injury to the boy. Detectives contacted both Davis and the mother who at the time were cooperative. Both subjects came to the police department to be interviewed.
 
Davis continued to claim the child fell down a set of stairs while at home and bumped his head. Davis stated that the boy was fine afterward and only complained of "not feeling well" five to six hours later. Davis stated that he and the two children later drove to pick up the boy's mother from work. Upon arriving home, the boy was found unconscious in the back seat of their car.
 
During the course of the investigation, detectives learned of past incidents where the boy may have sustained physical and mental abuse from Davis as recent as October of this year. Medical reports from doctors at both hospitals documented this injury as "non-accidental” and could not have occurred from the events stated by Davis. The boy’s mother supports Davis’ statement.
 
Detectives made several attempts to re-interview both Davis and the boy's mother, however, they both continued to make the same statement and at this point have become uncooperative with the investigation.
 
Based on the totality of the investigation and the medical opinions made by doctors, a warrant arrest was obtained by detectives for the abuse and injuries sustained under the care of Johnathan Davis.
 
"This was a difficult case for our detectives and everyone involved in caring for the little boy,” said San Leandro Police Lieutenant Isaac Benabou. "There is definitely more to this story than we know at this time, but for now we have a helpless, defensively child clinging to life and neither parental figure can give us a straight answer as to what happened?
 
Two days after the incident, Child Protective Services placed both children in protective custody, including Davis' 15-month-old daughter.
 
Numerous hours went into this case as detectives worked day and night, throughout the Thanksgiving Holiday, searching for answers.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the young boy and hope for a turnaround in his condition.
 
This morning, Davis appeared in an Alameda County courtroom and was charged with assault on a child with force likely to create great bodily injury, a felony under California Penal Code section 273AB.  Davis is held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
 
San Leandro Police is asking anyone who may have information helpful to this case to please contacted detectives at 510-577-3241.