SAHUARITA, Ariz. — Sahuarita police arrested a father earlier this month on suspicions of child abuse after a Sahuarita school reported an incident.
Police say the incident report came in after an 8-year-old girl caused her teacher concern because she was having issues with sitting. The girl told staff that she had been hit with a belt by her father for taking too long in the shower.
A female officer was assigned to the case and examined the child, confirming that the girl had bruises on her buttocks.
When SPD officers interviewed the father about the incident, he told them that this was the fashion that he disciplined his children. SPD told the father, in accordance with Arizona law, that discipline for children should never be conducted with an object, and only "reasonable force," which means, not enough to leave marks.
SPD would also like to remind parents that it may be better to apply "reasonable force" discipline when a parent is calm, not upset with their children.
