A child watches as Winnipeg police investigate the stabbing of an infant at the Gilbert Park housing complex Saturday. (CBC)  

An eight-month-old Winnipeg boy remains in critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in the face — allegedly by his father, who has been charged, police said Sunday.

The child may have suffered brain damage as a result of being caught in the middle of a domestic argument that turned violent, police said.

Paramedics and police were called to an apartment at the Gilbert Park housing complex in the city's Shaughnessy Heights neighbourhood around 4 p.m. local time Saturday.

Witnesses said they noticed the child was hurt after three adults they identified as the father, mother and an aunt emerged from the building carrying him.

John Klassen, who lives at the complex, said he wrested the injured child away from the mother and comforted the boy until paramedics arrived. The boy had a serious cut above his eye, Klassen said.

"It's horrifying to see someone else's child that's been hurt real bad," said Klassen, a father of two.

Winnipeg police said their investigation so far has revealed the 23-year-old father and the baby's 29-year-old mother were arguing when the man allegedly took "a common household object" and swung it in the direction of the woman, who was holding the baby at the time.

The father was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and two counts of failing to abide by the conditions of a prior release from police custody.

Accused in earlier assault

Const. Jason Michalyshen said the breaches related to an incident Aug. 20, when the father allegedly used a weapon to assault the woman. He was ordered not to contact her or go to her residence in Gilbert Park.

The man is being detained, police said.

Electronic court records show the mother applied for a restraining order against him in February, but the application was dismissed. No reason was given for the refusal.

Alcohol may also have been a factor in the weekend dispute, police said.

Alisha Moar and Lauren Molinski, both 16, said they saw the adults arguing and tried to help the baby.

"I ran inside to get a towel and I just came back and the baby had a really big gash over his head," said Moar, who lives in the area.

There are reports the Winnipeg police's child abuse unit is investigating the status of another child who was in the apartment at the time.

Police declined to say if the couple had any other children, but neighbours told CBC News there were other children in the house who are now staying with relatives.

The incident happened about 100 metres from the spot where a 14-month-old girl had her head smashed into a sidewalk numerous times on Sept. 1.

A 19-year-old woman was charged in that attack, which left the girl with non-life-threatening injuries.

In 2006, the government-run Gilbert Park complex was the scene of another near-tragic incident involving a vulnerable person after a disabled 14-year-old boy was locked in a shed by a group of youths.

The shed was then set on fire. The boy was rescued by a man who saw the smoke and commotion by another group of kids trying to pry open the door to rescue their friend.

Government defends work on housing complex

A senior Manitoba government spokeswoman told CBC News there were improvements to security for the complex in 2008.

They included new lighting for doorways, public areas and walkways.

Also that year, a four-person team of social workers was assigned to the area to help reduce high-risk behaviour in youth as well as to assist families who are experiencing domestic crises.

Manitoba Housing has permanent foot patrols to secure the complex, the spokeswoman said.

With files from The Canadian Press