A Florida man allegedly punched a 1-year-old in the stomach, which led to the child having emergency surgery, police said.

Tyquan Spencer, 22, of North Miami, is accused of punching his girlfriend's daughter in the stomach when he was left home with the child, according to NBC6. The blow to the stomach caused the child to throw up and "damaged the girl's small intestine," WKGM reported.

According to police, the children’s mother, Scarlett Ruiz, 24, “coached” her other daughter, who witnessed the incident, “to deny what she saw,” NBC6 reported.

Ruiz was arrested for allegedly knowing about the punch and not telling “the medical staff about it,” according to WKMG.

Spencer and Ruiz were charged with child abuse causing great bodily harm. Spencer was also charged with criminal mischief.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, among others, will no longer be considered fee-free days at U.S. National Parks. While the MLK National Historic Park in Atlanta doesn't charge admission, the new schedule will affect such metro Atlanta sites as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez