A Butler man rose from his wheelchair at Butler Memorial Hospital and punched a 20-month-old child in the face Tuesday night, according to police.

Butler Township police filed charges the same day against Elijah T. Flick-Geibel, 19, including felony aggravated assault on a child and misdemeanor simple assault and disorderly conduct.

Flick-Geibel was being involuntarily committed at the hospital at the time of the alleged attack, and he has yet to be arrested on the charges.

According to charging documents, a hospital employee had helped Flick-Geibel into a wheelchair and brought him to the triage area. Shortly after arriving, Flick-Geibel exited the chair and walked to a woman, who was holding her son, seated in a different chair in the triage area.

“(The employee) turned to hit the 'code yellow' button to get help,” said the investigating officer. “While he turned, he heard a 'slap' and a woman scream, 'He hit my baby.'”

Police collected multiple statements from witnesses who either saw Flick-Geibel approach the mother and child or heard the sound of the alleged strike.

The mother also gave a statement to police, saying she was sitting in a chair when Flick-Geibel approached and stared at her son.

“(The mother) had a bad feeling and got up out of her chair with her son and ran into the first room on the right,” police said. “Flick-Geibel swung and punched (her) son in the face.”

In the aftermath of the punch, Flick-Geibel was restrained by hospital staff and security.

Police said they saw a redness to the right side of the boy's cheek, but saw no other obvious injuries.

Following his arrest, Flick-Geibel will be arraigned by a district judge and a preliminary hearing will be scheduled.