SALT LAKE CITY — An 18-year-old man accused of hitting a 12-year-old boy with a small object numerous times for not doing chores correctly has been arrested for investigation of child abuse.
The investigation began just after midnight on Monday when police received a call of a missing 12-year-old boy last seen the night before in Antimony, Garfield County. After an all-night search, the boy was found about 8:30 a.m.
“While being interviewed (the boy) told me he had run away because (the 18-year-old) had hit him with a stick and he was afraid (he) would hit him again for being too slow doing chores,” according to a police affidavit.
The deputy noted bruises on the boy’s back and legs. When the man was interviewed, he “admitted to hitting (the boy) 62 times with a ‘switch’ about as big around as his smallest finger. He had hit (the boy) for miscounting irrigation pipe. ... He gave (the boy) one strike for each miscount totaling 62,” the affidavit states.
The man was booked into the Sevier County Jail for investigation of misdemeanor child abuse.