A 34-year-old man, identified as Jerry Stark, is in police custody in Memphis, Tennessee, after authorities say he bit his infant son on the cheek during a series of disturbing events that unfolded in the early hours of Friday, May 1, 2026.
Memphis Police responded to an ambulance request around 1 a.m. and arrived at a restaurant where they found Stark inside, visibly distressed and shouting. According to staff, he had rushed into the establishment carrying his infant son, laid down on the kitchen floor with the child, and claimed that his family was trying to kill him.
Officers who spoke with Stark said he repeated the same claim and appeared to be in a state of panic, insisting that he needed help.
Witness accounts indicated that the situation had escalated earlier at a Shell gas station, where Stark was seen holding the infant and asking for assistance. He later left the location in a red SUV and went to another gas station, continuing to seek help.
At one point, witnesses told police they became concerned for the baby’s safety as Stark was reportedly holding the child tightly, and the infant began showing signs of distress. They attempted to intervene and take the child from him.
During the struggle, Stark allegedly bit the infant on the right cheek. Witnesses said they were eventually able to remove the baby from him and exit the scene, after which authorities were contacted.
Police later located the child’s mother, who reported that she had been in a vehicle with Stark before the incident. She alleged that he pushed her out of the moving vehicle and drove off with the child in an unknown direction.
Officers observed an injury on the infant’s face, and the child was taken to a hospital, where he was reported to be in non-critical condition.
Stark was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 4, 2026. Authorities have not yet confirmed the specific charges he will face.
