An 8-year-old boy in Florida told police that he was beaten in the face with a belt after he failed to win anything at an awards ceremony, according to an arrest report.
Cornelius DeShawn Cross is facing a charge of child abuse and is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. The report does not indicate the relationship between Cross, 46, and the 8-year-old boy.
The Florida Department of Children and Families received a complaint from a school nurse Thursday reporting that the boy arrived at school with bruising on his face after saying he was struck by a belt.
The boy was initially evasive about the origin of the bruising but then admitted Cornelius struck him five times, at least once in the face, with a belt after he came home empty-handed from an awards ceremony the night before, the report said. The report redacts where the awards ceremony took place.
Bruising was visible under both of the boy’s eyes, police said.
Cross, of Riviera Beach, told police that he disciplined the boy after he got into an altercation at school. But school officials did not corroborate’s Cross’ account, the report said. Cross told police he occassionally disciplined the boy with a belt but had used his hands in this instance.
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