Man arrested on suspicion of murder after toddler, one, who was found with serious injuries dies
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a one-year-old child who was found with serious injuries died in hospital.
The toddler was found in a critical condition in a home in Darlington, County Durham, at around 9am on Friday.
Police, paramedics and an air ambulance rushed to the scene were on Frosterley Drive and the child was rushed to hospital.
The child later died of their injuries.
Residents on the residential estate have now spoken out, saying how they "don't expect something like that to happen on your doorstep."
One nearby described how she "hasn't been able to sleep" after hearing about the incident online.
She explained: "When the police came I had just got back from the school run. There was one paramedic car. I went upstairs to do my makeup as I was going to meet my mum in the town."
The 31-year-old continued: "Then there were three ambulances and three police cars and I heard the helicopter, I thought what on Earth? I was shocked - I've lived here for two years. We've never had anything like that."
One 19-year-old, who has only lived on the estate for a matter of months after moving in last September, described how "all hell" was going on.
Speaking from his doorstep, he explained: "At 9am I woke up to the sound of sirens.
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"Then I saw the lights and within about five to 10 minutes there was an air ambulance, like 12 police cars and ambulances. All the services were here by about 9.30am. It's right on the doorstep - you hear about these things on the news all the time. The coppers haven't left since Friday and CSI have been back around four or five times."
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the "amount of police around here is ridiculous" recently - but noted how the incident on Friday was "completely different."
He continued: "You don't expect something like that to happen on your doorstep. People in white suits have been in and out and there have been unmarked cop cars. Detectives were here, I don't know how many, but they were knocking on doors."
Another resident added: "The air ambulance landed on the field at 9.21 am on Friday. They just went right down to the bottom and were there until about 10am.
"Police were out too but I didn't go down. We saw the police car, an ambulance car, and that's all."
A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: "An investigation has been launched into the death of a child in Darlington on Friday. Police were called to an address near Haughton Road, Darlington, at around 9am on Friday, January 12.
"Paramedics also attended, and a one-year-old child was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Sadly, the child died passed away yesterday afternoon.
"A woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of causing or allowing serious injury to a child. A man in his 30s was also arrested on suspicion of causing or allowing serious injury to a child, and was further arrested for murder.
"Both have been released on conditional bail while further inquiries are made to establish the circumstances of the death."
