Fort Myers, FL – A 24-year-old Arcadia man was arrested this week after allegedly shaking his two-month-old child in frustration when the baby wouldn’t stop crying outside a Fort Myers bar.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, detectives say Israel Rivas was at the Nauti Parrot Oasis with friends but had agreed to remain outside with his infant. The next morning, the child reportedly began vomiting, leading the baby’s mother to seek immediate medical care.
Investigators said Rivas admitted to shaking the infant because the crying would not stop. Medical staff later determined the baby had symptoms consistent with shaken baby syndrome, though they do not expect lasting injuries.
Because the alleged incident occurred in Lee County, the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit presented the case to the State Attorney’s Office, which issued a warrant for Rivas on a charge of child abuse. He was taken into custody by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Charlotte County Jail.
Authorities confirmed Rivas has since been released on bond. No future court dates have yet been made public.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the dangers of shaken baby syndrome, noting that even brief shaking can cause serious or permanent harm. Officials urged caregivers to seek help in overwhelming moments, reminding the public that it is safer to place a crying baby in a secure spot and step away than to resort to physical force.
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