Deer Park woman, 22, charged with shaking baby niece

A Deer Park woman violently shook her 11-month-old niece, causing the baby to suffer internal bleeding, Suffolk police said.

Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Paola Baez, 22, of Morris Drive shook her niece to stop her from crying, police said. When the baby became unresponsive and blood came out of her mouth, Baez and her husband took her to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where she told hospital staff the child fell out of a swing, police said.

Hospital staff called police because of the baby's suspicious injuries, police said.

Baez was watching the baby while her mother was at work, police said.

The baby suffered internal bleeding and is in critical condition, police said. Baez was arraigned on charges of reckless assault of a child Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip. She was released on $1,500 bail and due back in court March 23.