Harrisburg man arrested for assaulting 4-year-old girl

Police in Cumberland County on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old Harrisburg man wanted for physically abusing a 4-year-old girl earlier this year, according to a police report.

Avery R. King is accused of attacking the girl the night of June 10 while the child’s mother was taking a night class. The girl’s mother noticed bruises around her daughter’s ears on the morning of June 11, police said.

UPMC Child Advocacy staff interviewed the girl, but she did not specifically say who caused her injuries, police said. The Child Advocacy Center determined the girl’s injuries were the result of blunt force trauma.

Police interviewed King, who denied injuring the girl, according to an affidavit. When asked what happened to the girl, King said, “No matter what the doctors say,” police said.

Investigators ultimately determined that King was the only person who could have harmed the girl and filed charges on Nov. 13 for aggravated assault, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children.

King was released on $75,000 bail a few hours after he was arrested Tuesday. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 19.