Bradenton man charged with child abuse after preschool finds 'severe' bruising

BRADENTON -- A caretaker of three children was charged with child abuse Tuesday after a preschool called law enforcement to report a juvenile had bruises on his face, near his ear, his leg and his buttocks, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

The Manatee United Methodist Church Preschool, 305 15th Street East, called police, who observed that the child had bruises under his left eye, above his right ear, the back of his right leg and "severe" bruising on his buttocks, according to an arrest report. The bruising appeared to be the cause of "both blunt force and linear force."

Through interviews with the other two children and child protective services, police learned Mario Jesus Garcia Rodriguez, 41, a friend of the mother, was one of the caretakers of the children.

Police arrived at the home and interviewed Garcia Rodriguez, who allowed them to come inside the house, according to the report.

During questioning, Garcia Rodriguez said the bruise on the child's eye came from falling down the stairs, but he was unable to explain the bruise near his ear. He told police he had spanked the child the previous day using a small board.

Garcia Rodriguez showed the board to the officers, who said it was a foot and a half long and two and a half inches wide. Garcia Rodriguez said he spanked the child's bare bottom because he had a diaper on prior to the incident that was soaked with urine, so Garcia Rodriguez removed it beforehand.

He said the child was "not behaving or listening," but that he did not believe the child would sustain injuries from the punishment.

The child was evaluated by a doctor, who said the injuries were a result of abuse.

Garcia Rodriguez was arrested Tuesday and charged with willfully abusing a child without great harm. He was released from the Manatee County jail on Wednesday on $1,000 bond.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Bradenton man charged with child abuse after preschool finds 'severe' bruising ."