East Lyme ― A 19-year-old East Lyme man was arrested Monday following an investigation into injuries sustained by two four-week-old infant girls.

Torin Ruleman of 7306 Maple Tree Lane was scheduled to appear Tuesday in New London Superior Court on charges that included two counts each of cruelty to persons, risk of injury to a child, second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.

An arrest-warrant affidavit referred to Ruleman and his girlfriend as the parents of the infants, who a witness told police were being placed in foster care at the direction of the state Department of Children and Families.

According to the affidavit, the investigation of Ruleman began Oct. 13 after Old Saybrook police reported that the infants’ injuries were discovered during their visit to an Old Saybrook pediatrician, who notified police. The infants were taken to the emergency room of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Detectives found one infant had 13 fractures “in various stages of healing,” while the other had eight fractures.

According to the affidavit, Ruleman said he would toss the infants in the air “to stop them from crying,” and one time tossed one of them “a little further than usual” and the infant came down “really hard.” He said he regretted doing this.

He said that another time, he fell asleep and one of the infants fell onto a roll of paper towels on the floor. He also said he was told he “swaddled” the infants too tightly in a blanket and at another time, he fell asleep while one of the infants was in a bouncer seat. A witness found the infant falling out of the seat.

According to police, a pediatrican at Yale New Haven Hospital said the injuries to the infants appeared to be due “to repeated acts of physical abuse.”

Ruleman’s girlfriend told police she does not believe Ruleman’s actions were “intentional” but that Ruleman did frequently say “I can’t do this,.” was frantic at times and stressed out.

Ruleman was held on a $200,000 bond.