Man accused of seriously injuring 5-year-old in southeast Nebraska

LIBERTY, Neb. (KOLN) - A Gage County man was arrested Monday after a child abuse investigation involving two young victims, including a five-year-old boy who was hospitalized, authorities said.

On Monday, shortly before 7 a.m., the Gage County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a five-year-old boy who was unresponsive and in care at a hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Deputies were able to determine the child had been taken to the hospital in Marysville, Kansas, then emergency transported to the hospital in Kansas City for specialized care.

Deputies and investigators worked with detectives from the Kansas City Police Department and officers of the Marysville Police Department to obtain evidence during the case and develop Timothy Lee Erks, 30, of Liberty, as a suspect, deputies say.

A search warrant was executed at Erks’ home outside of Liberty later in the day but he was not there, according to the sheriff’s office.

A deputy observed Erks in a vehicle on Highway 8 outside of Liberty and conducted a traffic stop. He was then interviewed by deputies and an investigator and subsequently arrested.

The victims are a five-year-old boy and an infant girl, deputies say. Erks was taken to the Gage County Detention Center and booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and child abuse resulting in injury charges.

The investigation is ongoing