TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been charged with child abuse after school employees noticed a 7-year-old bleeding from his face and called in deputies to investigate.
Anthony Brockman, 32, was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's Office and charged with domestic child abuse.
Deputies were called to Astoria Park Elementary School to investigate a child abuse incident Wednesday.
The police report states the victim had four marks on his cheek, several marks on his forearm and a loop mark on his back. Two of the marks on the child's face had dried blood around them.
The Child Protection Team medical staff also found marks on the victim's behind.
While talking with deputies, Brockman admitted to spanking the victim on April 17. Brockman told deputies that the victim got into trouble at school and he told the victim to "drop his pants" for a spanking with a belt.
The victim refused, so Brockman got a phone charging cord so that the victim would feel the spanking through his clothes.
Brockman informed deputies that he grabbed the victim's shirt and started swinging the cord to spank him. He said he wasn't sure where he was hitting the victim.
After about five "licks" and Brockman stopped. He looked at the victim and realized the phone cord hit the victim's face and arms.
Brockman stated to deputies his intention was not to hit the victim in the face, but the victim's movement angered him, causing him to loose control briefly.
He acknowledged that two of the marks on the victim's face were bleeding.
Deputies write Brockman expressed remorse for the injuries he caused on the victim. Based on the evidence, Brockman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with child abuse without great bodily harm.
He was transported to the Leon County Detention Center.
