A St. Paul man allegedly beat his wife for refusing to drink with him and then stepped on their infant son's head, threatening to increase the pressure unless she changed her mind, according to charges filed Thursday in Ramsey County District Court.

Tin Kyaw, 54, was arrested on Tuesday after a pest control worker stopped by the residence, and before leaving, saw the woman say quietly, "Help me," the charges say.

The man called 911.

When officers arrived at the residence in the 1400 block of L'Orient Street, they heard the woman whimpering, then handcuffed Kyaw. The 7-month-old baby, by then in his crib, had marks on his head and face. The mother, too, had marks on her neck, plus apparent swelling on her face, the charges say.

She said that Kyaw assaulted her after he came home drunk.

In a statement to police, Kyaw claimed that his wife had bit him, and that he then pushed her, causing her to fall and hit her head. He also said that she pulled on their son while Kyaw was putting the boy in his crib, the charges state.

Kyaw was ordered to have no contact with his wife and son.

He made his first court appearance on Thursday, and was being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Mother and son were taken to a shelter, the charges say.

ANTHONY LONETREE