Payson man arrested in child-abuse case

PAYSON — Police arrested a father who they say beat his two children with a belt, including one son who is mentally disabled.

On July 25, police say a 7-year-old boy told police and workers at the Division of Child and Family Services that his father had hit him with a belt buckle, according to an affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

The boy's older brother, a severely disabled 12-year-old, also told police that the father "always hits him and the other (boy) with the belt," the affidavit states.

The younger boy said his father got upset because he asked for food and because he hadn't cleaned, police said. The child was able to show police the belt with a raised emblem of an eagle on the buckle, according to the affidavit.

The older boy also told police that he had witnessed those beatings several times, police said.

Officers noted bruises on both boys — the younger boy had one on his chest and the older boy had some nearly healed bruises on his legs.

The father was booked into jail for investigation of abuse of a disabled child, child abuse and domestic violence in the presence of a child. He was being held on $5,000 cash or bond bail and was ordered by a judge to have no contact with the children.

— Sara Israelsen-Hartley