MIDDLETOWN - A 1-year-old baby was severely burned on the neck, face and lips Saturday evening here after an 18-year-old man tried to throw a highly charged firework out a car window but the firework bounced back into the car, according to police reports.

Nathanial Scott Harden, of Middletown, was charged with aggravated arson and felonious assault after he tried to throw out the window a firework designed to be used as a mortar in a tube-like device. He was being held without bond in Middletown City Jail on Sunday, with a first appearance in court scheduled for this morning.

No name was available for the baby, who was taken to Shriners Hospitals for Children Cincinnati Burns Hospital in Corryville with second-degree burns, or for its mother, who was holding the baby in the back seat.

Father accused of shaking baby

SPRINGFIELD TWP. - A West End man was arrested Saturday night after his 4-month-old baby was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Friday with brain damage, apparently the victim of shaken baby syndrome, according to police reports.

Aleph Phelps, 25, was charged with felonious assault after he admitted to violently shaking his baby, causing severe head trauma. Phelps told police he was trying to stop the child from choking.

The infant, Kayla Stallworth, was in the intensive care unit at the hospital Saturday with brain damage and swelling. She was in critical condition Sunday.

Shoplifting suspect found to be armed

FOREST PARK - A shoplifting arrest outside a Bigg's store turned into an aggravated robbery charge after, police say, they discovered that a man accused of stealing merchandise also was carrying a loaded handgun.

Police say Stephen Sizemore, 28, of West Harrison, Ind., was caught by store loss prevention officers with $57.25 worth of merchandise late Saturday. When police arrived, they found a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun tucked into Sizemore's waistband, which led to the aggravated robbery charge, police say.

A woman who was with Sizemore, Nadaqua T. Borode, 19, of Taylor Mill, also was arrested and charged with complicity to robbery, which is a felony.

Report of shots leads to paintball gun

WEST END - A Cincinnati man was arrested here early Sunday morning after police responded to a call about shots being fired and found him with a paintball gun tucked inside his pants, according to police reports.

Cecil Smith, 33, was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after residents called to report shots fired shortly after 2 a.m. in the 700 block of Derrick Turnbow Avenue, near Interstate 75.

Space heater possible factor in fatal blaze

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. - A house fire that killed a 20-year-old woman and her infant daughter may have been sparked by a flammable object being too close to a space heater, fire officials said.

Kayla Colvin died of smoke inhalation early Saturday. Her month-old daughter, Marissa Edwards, was pronounced dead at a Jeffersonville hospital, said Clark County Coroner Ed Coots.

Bill Edwards, Colvin's 34-year-old fiance, and his friend, Roger Millspaugh, 39, both were taken to Clark Memorial Hospital for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation. They were listed in fair condition Sunday.

Corey Lewis, Colvin's 16-year-old cousin, was treated for minor burns and released.

Maj. Clark Miles of the Jeffersonville Fire Department said a preliminary investigation pointed to the possibility that the 5 a.m. fire was caused by something flammable being too close to a space heater in the living room.