MORENO VALLEY – A 23-year-old Moreno Valley man was arrested on suspicion of physically abusing the 11-month-old child of a woman he was dating because the baby would not stop crying, authorities said Wednesday.

Moreno Valley police responded to a “baby not breathing” call in the 10000 block of Arrow Leaf near Prescott around 8 p.m. Monday, Moreno Valley police Sgt. Jaime Briones said.

When officers reached the residence, the baby was breathing again, according to Briones, who said the child was transported to Riverside County Regional Medical Center.

Investigators later learned the infant had suffered serious injuries consistent with abuse, he said.

Police interviewed a number of the victim's family members and others, including Joseph Steven Barrilleaux, who was dating the child's mother, Briones said.

“Mr. Barrilleaux made statements that strongly suggested that he caused the injuries to the baby last week when the infant refused to stop crying,” the sergeant said.

Those injuries would have been inflicted days before Monday's distress call, police noted.

No details on Barrilleaux's alleged actions against the child were immediately disclosed, nor were the child's gender and current medical condition, though the baby remains hospitalized.

Barrilleaux was arrested around 11 a.m. Tuesday and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of infliction of great bodily injury and willful cruelty to a child, according to sheriff's jail records.

He was released the same day on $40,000 bail. An arraignment date was not immediately available.

The child will be placed in protective custody, Briones said.