Abuse. Misipope Taliga stands accused of domestic assault. Submitted Photo

By Paul Thompson
Northeast News
July 27, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri-A 29-year-old Kansas City man stands accused of Domestic Assault in the First Degree in the vicious beating of a five-year-old boy.

A $200,000 bond was requested on Monday, July 18 in the case of Misipope Taliga, who witnesses allege struck the child in a home near 20th and Topping Avenue on Sunday, July 17. Police arrived on the scene to find paramedics treating the child for a variety of injuries, and officers went on to find blood inside the residence. If convicted, Taliga could face a minimum sentence of 10 years behind bars.

A probable cause statement released by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office indicates that officers were initially dispatched in response to an injury accident. Once at the scene police contacted the boy’s mother, who told authorities that she left her two kids in the care of her husband, Taliga. Taliga stated that the five-year-old boy had been struck by a car. However, Taliga was initially unable to identify details about the vehicle or driver.

One neighbor (identified as MR) told police that he took the younger of the two children – a three-year-old – to his house while the five-year-old was being tended to by paramedics. The three-year-old told MR that his older brother had been kicked by Taliga in the kitchen, and that the blow had left his brother bloodied on the floor.

Another neighbor, identified as JM, said that the two children had knocked on her door looking for their mother before noon on Sunday, July 17. She was later told that Taliga was the parent of the two children. She walked over to the home where the incident occurred to find the front door open. Inside, she observed Taliga speaking senselessly with bloodshot eyes. When the kids were returned to his care, he grew angry and shouted expletives at the children. Twenty minutes later, JM heard an ambulance arrive at the house.

Once inside the residence in question, officers observed stains appearing to be blood in the living room. They found more apparent blood stains throughout the kitchen, as well as a red, saturated piece cloth on the floor. Additionally, officers found light red swirl marks on the kitchen floor.

Eventually, Taliga stated that he witnessed the five-year-old get hit by a blue vehicle. He denied kicking the boy, or bringing him into the kitchen. The victim was transferred to Children’s Mercy hospital to be treated for injuries to his head. The victim also sustained bruises to his face, scalp, ears, shoulder, arms, and legs.

Taliga has previously served jail time for domestic violence in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was first arrested in December of 2008 for possessing a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license, among other traffic violations. Taliga was booked an additional seven times between 2011 and 2015 on charges including Child abuse, Domestic violence in presence of child, Assault, use of weapon in fight/threat, Public intoxication, Criminal mischief, and Protective Order violations. Salt Lake City District Court officials told theNortheast Newsthat in 2015, Taliga was sentenced to 180 days in prison, serving concurrent sentences for crimes he committed in April and December of 2013, respectively.