A Coast Guard fireman was arraigned yesterday for allegedly kicking and stomping his 8-month-old baby hours before going to a Thanksgiving Day gathering at his in-laws’ home.

Although Brandon A. Holley, 26, of Middletown, had allegedly told his wife he didn’t know what was wrong with their son, the baby’s grandparents, who live in Derry, N.H., could see the infant was suffering. Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving, they insisted on taking the baby to their local hospital.

That led to the discovery of abuse, said Lt. David Neill, state police assistant detective commander, and Holley’s arrest on charges of first- and second-degree child abuse.

The baby boy suffered broken ribs and a partially lacerated liver, but was listed in stable condition at Boston Children’s Hospital yesterday afternoon –– at around the same time his father was being arraigned in District Court, Newport. By evening, Holley hadn’t posted bail and was still being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, according to a corrections spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, doctors have found evidence that the baby had been injured before; the state police investigation is continuing, Neill said. Senior Chief Richard Uronis of Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England said the Coast Guard was cooperating with all of the agencies in Holley’s case.

Holley told state police investigators he was “very frustrated with his new life” –– his job as an E3 fireman in the Coast Guard, his new marriage and new baby, said Neill.

On Wednesday night, as Holley was putting his son to bed at the family’s apartment, No. 7 at 9 Admiralty Drive, he allegedly stomped on the baby’s back and kicked him, according to the state police investigation. His wife rushed into the room when she heard the baby screaming and crying hysterically, but Holley told her he didn’t know what was wrong, Neill said.

She left the apartment at 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day for her job delivering newspapers. When she returned home several hours later, she saw bruises on the baby’s face, Neill said. Holley told his wife he had dropped their son, Neill said. However, Holley later told state police investigators that he’d repeatedly smacked the baby in the face, Neill said in a written statement from the state police.

The couple discussed taking their baby to the hospital, but decided to go to her family’s house in Derry for the gathering and ask her parents what they thought, Neill said. The baby’s grandparents saw his injuries and insisted he should go to the hospital, Neill said.

The baby was examined at Parkland Medical Center, in Derry, which soon transferred him to Boston Children’s Hospital because of the seriousness of the injuries. The baby suffered broken ribs, internal injuries, and bruises on his face, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, Neill said. The Massachusetts Department of Child Services has temporary custody, Neill said.

After Holley gave conflicting statements at the Boston hospital about how his son was injured, the Rhode Island State Police were called in to investigate Friday night. After speaking with the state police investigators on Saturday, Holley was arrested and held at the ACI until his arraignment yesterday.

amilkovi@projo.com