Marshals nab man accused of abusing girlfriend's child

BILOXI -- Federal marshals have found a man suspected of abusing his girlfriend's child while the boy's mother was at work, police said.

Richard Edward Ackerman, 24, of Ocean Springs, had come under scrutiny after the boy's father contacted police and said the child had been assaulted, Detective Grandver Everett said.

The child, a pre-schooler, had been injured on New Year's Day but police had been unable to find Ackerman, Everett said.

The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and patrol officers with the Biloxi Police Department arrested Ackerman on Friday in the 1700 block of Popp's Ferry Road.

Details on the child's injuries have not been released. Everrett said the injuries were not life-threatening.

He was arrested on a charge of felony child abuse.

Ackerman was booked at the Harrison County jail Friday night and was held on a $50,000 bond set by Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain.

Ackerman was released on bail in less than an hour, the jail docket shows.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police dispatchers at 392-0641 or the police department's criminal investigations division at 435-6112.

Also, tipsters can provide information anonymously by calling Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-877-787-5898 or text CSTIP plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES). To give a tip online, go to www.mscoastcrimestoppers.com.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Marshals nab man accused of abusing girlfriend's child ."