STRUTHERS, Ohio - Thirty-two-year-old Robert Purfey, Jr. is in the Mahoning County Jail after being charged with child endangering.

His eight week old son is in critical condition. On Friday July 5, at 10:30 a.m., a 911 call was made for help to a home at 41 Park Avenue in Struthers.

Detective Jeff Lewis tells 21 News the Struthers Fire Department was the first on the scene.

"The child was transferred to Akron Children's in Boardman,"says Detective Jeff Lewis with the Struthers police department.

Struthers police seized as evidence,  a blood-stained towel from the front his home.  They also took a pair of grooming scissors.

A source tells 21 News, the father of the eight week old infant stuffed the baby wipe in his son's mouth because he was crying.

Once it lodged in the infant's throat, the 32-year-old dad allegedly used the grooming scissors to try and get the baby wipe out causing more injuries.

Police say Children Services took Purfey's one-year-old daughter and is actively involved in this case.

Struthers Police say the mother of the infant and girl was not home at the time, but visiting her mother in Youngstown.

Detective Lewis says criminal charges could be increased against Purfey whose eight week old son who was flown to the main hospital in Akron. 

"Depending on the extent of the injuries or if things take a turn for the worst, absolutely charges could be increased," Lewis says. "The case is going to be presented to the county prosecutor and they will decide what charges to file."

According to court records, Purfey Jr. was convicted of misdemeanor assault in Youngstown Municipal Court in 2011.

He has violated probation and was charged in 2009 and 2011 for possessing drug paraphernalia, but pleaded those to reduced charges.

Austintown court records show he was to answer theft charges in June 2013.