SAN ANTONIO – A 22-year-old man is accused of abusing a 2-year-old girl by hitting her with a piece of plastic and leaving her with bruises.
An arrest affidavit stated that the suspect, Armando Herrera Jr., told Bexar County Sheriff's Office investigators that he was angry with the child for not eating and for throwing food.
Recommended Videos
In addition, investigators said Herrera shaved the girl's head and shaved lines into her eyebrows.
The affidavit stated that the alleged abuse came to light this week, when a witness noticed red and purple bruises on the child's back and buttocks.
That witness and another witness called the sheriff's office on Wednesday, saying they feared that the toddler was about to be taken to a place where Herrera might hurt her again, the affidavit stated.
The child's mother told investigators that the beating happened on June 9. However, she said she also saw Herrera mistreat her daughter earlier in the month, by holding his hand over her mouth while she was crying, the affidavit stated.
Detectives said they also spoke with Herrera, who admitted to hitting the girl with the stem of a plastic rose.
The affidavit stated that Herrera told them that he shaved her head because she had lice. Herrera said that when he shaved lines in her eyebrows, he "was just having fun," the affidavit stated.
The 2-year-old and a 5-month-old child who lived in the home were placed into protective custody.
Herrera was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of injury to a child.