A school administrator is in jail after he allegedly beat a 9-year-old special-needs student several times with a belt, according to police.
Atlanta's WSB-TV talked to the child's mother, who said she didn't authorize the discipline.
The incident has had a lot of people concerned, and people have been reaching out to WSB-TV's Facebook page since the incident happened Monday.
WSB-TV talked with the 9-year-old and got a look at his bruises. His mother said a school administrator struck him several times with a belt for disobeying his teacher.
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Lori Cameron, Gentry's mother, showed WSB-TV photos of several bruises on Gentry's body. He also has a scratch where she said Larry Morey, an administrator at the school, Ace Academy, picked the boy up off the ground.
"They lifted him, from what I understand, about 18 inches off the ground and beat him with a leather belt," Cameron said.
Cameron said she got a call from the school on Monday to let her know they were disciplining her son, who is a special-needs student.
"I inspected my son, and he's covered in bruises and welts," Cameron said.
Foster said another staff member held him up while Morey struck him several times along his legs and midsection with the belt.
"I was screaming for help. I was lifting up my legs to try to block my butt," Gentry said.
"I was angry. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it," Cameron said.
Henry County police arrested Morey. They said he showed them a notarized waiver signed by Cameron allowing Ace Academy to use corporal punishment.
"However, in this particular case, detectives believed it was excessive, given the marks and bruising on the child," said Henry County Police Department Sgt. William Powell.
Cameron said in the past she gave written permission for staff to spank Gentry one time but not with a belt.
WSB-TV called the school Wednesday, and a woman named Kim Morey said they can't comment but are cooperating with investigators.
"I don't want to see this happen to anybody else's child," Cameron said.
Morey was booked into the Henry County Jail on Wednesday. Police said he is charged with child cruelty.
