A Revere police officer was arrested over the weekend on charges acusing him of using a belt to dicipline a 5-year-old child, authorities said.
State Police arrested Marcos Garcia, 32, of Saugus on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a child causing injury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege that Garcia struck and injured the 5-year-old child of a woman he was dating.
Media reports said Garcia disciplined the child using a belt, a punishment the mother allowed. A school nurse allegedly reported the abuse after seeing the child’s injuries, WCVB reported.
Revere Officer Marcos Garcia is charged with assault&battery on a child.A school official saw bruises on the 5y/o & called police.@fox25news pic.twitter.com/BzIkmOeb2i
— Malini Basu (@WFXTMalini) January 18, 2017
The child was placed in the custody of another family member. Prosecutors are not releasing the gender of the child in the interest of privacy.
No information was available as to whether Garcia has obtained a lawyer who could comment on the charges on his behalf.