A Florida couple is accused of child abuse after a 10-year-old boy was found bruised and nearly naked outside a Walgreens, authorities said.
Dequitisie Greek Collins, 50, and Latraina Kermaine Anderson, 30, both of Tarpon Springs, were arrested on Thursday, according to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
Collins was charged with child abuse, sexual battery and neglect of a child, records show. Anderson was charged with child abuse and neglect of a child without bodily harm.
According to arrest affidavits, the child was found outside of the Walgreens bruised and wearing nothing but his underwear, WFLA-TV reported.
The affidavit stated that the boy had a swollen wrist and injuries on his back, chest, legs and arms “consistent with being struck repeatedly with (a) belt.”
The child told authorities he had run away from his residence because he was “tied up and beat,” adding that he was “tortured,” according to the arrest affidavits.
Police dispatched to the couple’s residence spoke with Collins, who allegedly said he struck the boy “around four to five times on the butt with a belt.”
Collins told police that the boy had moved while he was being disciplined, WFLA reported.
Court records did not disclose the boy’s relationship to Collins or Anderson.
The couple was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, online records show. Bail was set at $20,000 each.
