A Florida man was arrested on child abuse charges over allegations that he allegedly shouted obscenities and physically abused a child for about half an hour over a missing couch cushion, according to officials.
Lance Rachel Sr., 42, was charged with aggravated child abuse and battery by strangulation. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on December 7 at a home in Kissimmee, Florida, but was not reported until days later.
Lance Rachel Sr., 42, was charged with aggravated child abuse and battery by strangulation and Kimberly Rachel, 35, was charged with failure to report known child abuse. (Osceola County Sheriff’s Office)
The sheriff’s office opened an investigation into the incident on December 11.
Rachel Sr. was angry because a couch cushion had shifted and accused the child of lying, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect “maliciously” punished the child by yelling obscenities and physically abusing the child for 28 minutes, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies said the incident occurred on December 7 at a home in Kissimmee, Florida, but was not reported until days later. (iStock)
Officers said the victim was beaten more than 50 times with a belt, strangled and called several derogatory names and other obscenities.
At one point, the suspect threatened to break the child’s jaw, officers said.
FIERY CHAOS AT FLORIDA’S INTERROGATION LEAVES THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEARCHING FOR TEN SUSPECTS
Lance Rachel Sr. was angry because a couch cushion had shifted and accused the child of lying, officers said. (iStock)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Part of the event was captured on home surveillance cameras, officers said.
On December 16, officers interviewed Kimberly Rachel, 35, who confirmed the incident had occurred. She was arrested and charged with not reporting known child abuse.
