TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been arrested for three counts of child abuse, the same charges that resulted in the other parent figure in the home being taken into custody.
Shabazz Boozer, 27, was booked into the Leon County Detention Center on Monday and remained there Tuesday. No bond amount was listed.
Wykelia Garner was taken into custody in December 2017.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A woman has been charged with three counts of child abuse after a doctor determined the children in her care suffered chronic physical abuse.
Wykelia Garner, 31, was taken into custody on Thursday.
According to court documents, Tallahassee Police were called to an apartment on Midyette Road back in October as part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
During the investigation at the apartment, officers noticed multiple scars, bruises, and scabs on the children's backs. When officers initially tried to interview Garner and Shabazz Boozer, who is the second parent figure in the home, Garner was too emotional to participate and Boozer never came home.
The children were then taken from the home and brought to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital's emergency room for a medical evaluation.
A doctor determined that all three children, who are all under the age of 10, had suffered "chronic physical abuse," which was consistent with them getting beat with an object suspected to be a belt.
Court documents say the children had injuries all over their backs and thighs. The doctor found that one child had bruises on "approximately 80 percent of his back." Another one of the children had injuries the doctor said was consistent with recurrent physical abuse.
Neither Garner or Boozer, agreed to participate in an interview with authorities.
Based on the investigation, police determined that Garner and Boozer knowingly abused the children. A warrant for their arrest was issued on Dec. 12.
Garner was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with three counts of child abuse. Police are still looking for Boozer.
