Another Bucks County father is facing felony charges for leaving bruises on a child after hitting him with a belt.
Bristol Township police allege a 31-year-old Croydon man struck his 10-year-old son with a belt multiple times earlier this year after the child was playing rough with a younger sibling with a developmental disability, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The suspect is not being named to protect the child’s identity.
Bristol Township police opened an investigation after receiving a referral from Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services alleging that the father hit the child with a belt, leaving visible bruising as a punishment,
the affidavit said.
During a forensic interview in March, the victim told authorities that his father initially intended to hit him with a rubber Croc shoe for hitting his sibling, but then directed him to get his belt.
The child allegedly told his father that he didn’t want to be hit with the belt, but the man allegedly hit him with it from his shoulder across his back.
A 13-year-old child in the home also told police that when he walked toward the room where the child was being hit, the man slammed the bedroom door, hitting his hand, the affidavit said.
The man was arraigned Aug. 13 before District Judge Terrance Hughes on felony charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The man was released after posting bail, and he had no legal representation listed as of Aug. 14.
Earlier this week a Lower Makefield man was charged with felony aggravated assault and related misdemeanors for allegedly beating his son with a belt leaving severe bruises because he was angry about the boy having a bad sports practice.
Crime and courts reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township dad accused of hitting son with belt, leaving bruises
