Police seeking West Newton man accused of beating up 1-year-old boy

Police are on the look for a West Newton man who allegedly beat up a 1-year-old boy Thursday while the child’s mother was at work.

Troopers said Salvatore Albert Salvio, 24, stole a car and cell phone belonging to the boy’s mother after she returned to her Sewickley Township home and confronted him.

The boy had severe bruising and swelling to his face and puncture marks on the bottoms of his feet that may have been caused by a syringe, according to court papers. Salvio is a heroin user, police said.

Aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related charges were filed against Salvio. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police were called to the Church Street home in Herminie at 6 p.m. The boy’s mother told investigators he was fine when she left him with Salvio, her boyfriend, for about six hours. When she returned, she found the boy crying and bleeding in an upstairs bedroom, according to court papers.

“She brought her son downstairs and accused Salvatore of hurting her child,” Trooper Evan Terek wrote in court papers. “He denied, claiming that he didn’t know what had happened and hadn’t done anything.”

Salvio allegedly threatened the woman when she tried to leave the house and he fled in her car. She called 911 from a neighbor’s home, police said.

Troopers photographed the boy’s injuries, which included about 15 puncture marks on his feet, according to court papers.

Anyone with information on Salvio’s whereabouts is asked to call state police at 724-832-3288.