Crime & Safety
Assistant Polk Attorney Charged With Child Endangerment
The West Des Moines man admitted to striking the child in the back for soiling a diaper.
WEST DES MOINES, IA — An Assistant Polk County Attorney who admitted striking a child for soiling its diaper has been charged with child endangerment in a Dallas County case. Joseph Darsean Crisp, 35, of West Des Moines, pleaded not guilty in an initial court appearance, KCCI reported.
The TV station reported Iowa Department of Human Services officials contacted West Des Moines police about a possible child abuse and detectives went to a day care center to investigate. They reportedly saw multiple bruises on the child's back.
According to court documents, Crisp was later interviewed and said he struck the child with an open hand as punishment for “going poop in the minor child's diaper," KCCI reported.
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KCCI also said Polk County Attorney John Sarcone confirmed Crisp remains employed by the county attorney's office, but that it "would not be appropriate for me to comment right now" on the case.
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