Giacomo Bologna

GBOLOGNA@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A Springfield man smacked a 3-month-old baby and dropped the infant into her crib in anger, according to a probable cause statement.

Matthew Payne, 28, had been baby-sitting the child earlier this week when he lost his temper and hit the left side of the baby's head, the statement said. The infant was taken to a hospital and found to have brain bleeds, a skull fracture and bruising to the head and eyes, the statement said.

According to the statement, Payne told police that after he dropped the baby into the crib, he went outside, punched a tree and smoked a cigar.

When the mother came home, the baby was covered by a blanket, the statement said. Payne denied striking the baby, the statement said, and the mother ordered him out of the house.

Payne is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to court records.