Northeast News

July 18, 2016

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

A $200,000 bond has been requested 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 on the afternoon of Monday, July 18 indicates that officers were initially dispatched to 2021 Topping 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, Misipope Taliga. When contacted, 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 at 2021 Topping 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.