Dayton officer disciplined for investigation involving child who later died

The city of Dayton last month punished a police detective for failing to properly investigate an alleged incident of child abuse involving Brayden Ferguson, a 2-year-old boy who officials say died of multiple blunt-force injuries from a later incident.

City officials accused Dayton police Detective Lindsay Dulaney of not thoroughly investigating a felonious assault and child endangering incident involving Brayden from 2015, according to records in her personnel file, obtained by this news organization using Ohio’s public records laws.

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Brayden died of multiple blunt force injuries on Feb. 14, 2017.

The coroner ruled his death a homicide, and authorities arrested and charged 23-year-old Ryan Luke St. John with murder and other crimes.

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Previously, St. John was arrested in November 2015 after police received a report of suspected child abuse from a case worker, according to a police report.

Detective Dulaney worked on the case, which involved the then-1-year-old Brayden. St. John and Brayden’s mother have a child together.

Last month, city officials charged Dulaney with administrative violations for allegedly not properly investigating the child abuse allegations, according to a disciplinary records in her personnel file.

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She was charged for failing to properly supplement her police report and for failing to respond to a prosecutor’s requests for additional information about the St. John child abuse case from 2015, the records show.

She received requests about the case from a prosecutor in November 2015, May 2016 and August 2016, the records indicate.

Dulaney was found guilty of multiple administrative violations and was given the punishment of 40 hours of suspension.

In lieu of suspension, however, Dulaney chose to forfeit five days of vacation time.

Attempts to reach Dulaney have been unsuccessful.

The city says it does not comment on personnel matters.

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Bryan St. John, Ryan St. John’s father, told this news organization on Wednesday that Brayden’s injuries were nine to 14 days old and in the healing process when he was medically examined.

He said prosecutors point to the 2015 incident as proof that his son had a history of abusing children even though he was not charged and the evidence did not suggest he was responsible.

Bryan St. John said his son has turned down plea deals because he insists he is innocent and did not kill Brayden.

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