PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — A 27-year-old Pleasant Grove mother is facing child abuse charges after police say her child reported her punching him after drinking. FOX 13 News is not releasing the name of the arrested in an effort to protect the victim's identity.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, officers with the Pleasant Grove Police Department were called by an elementary teacher who observed the child with bruising on his face.
The child reportedly had told other students that his mother had been drunk and hit him in the nose. When a school counselor met with the child, he repeated the same account.
School officials noted that the victim had been at school on Monday but missed Tuesday, the day before the bruising was observed.
That night, investigators removed the child from the home and scheduled an interview with him for the next day. When interviewed, the child stated that his mother had been in his bedroom when his mother came in and punched him with a closed fist.
The child also disclosed to police that his mother drinks liquor and becomes "mean" when she is drunk.
According to the child, his mother's boyfriend intervened during the incident by holding his mother's arms back to prevent her from striking again.
Detectives noted that the victim also had scratches to his chest and side. The foster mother caring for the child reported to police that the victim had said the scratches were caused by his mother prior to her punching him.
Police attempted to speak with the mother, but she requested that an attorney be present.
