Trending

Deputies: Florida man beat boy, threatened to feed him to alligators

PALM COAST, Fla. — A 28-year-old Florida man was charged with child abuse after he beat an 8-year-old boy and threatened to feed him to alligators, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

A Flagler County Sheriff's Office report said the child told deputies that Dereck Dunn, 28, took him to a pond behind their home on Tuesday and made the threat. They returned to the house and the boy said Dunn pushed his face into the carpet until he couldn't breathe, then hit him several times with a belt.

Deputies said the child had bruising on nearly every part of his body, and authorities praised staff at the school he attends for noticing the marks.

Dunn told deputies he was only joking when he threatened the boy and he denied hitting him, a report said.

"I witnessed it from time to time," family friend Justin Padgett said. "It's the typical picking, nitpicking back and forth."

Padgett has been watching the child since the incident.

"We are trying to work him through it, and other than that, DCF (Florida Department of Children and Families), you will have to comment with them on that," said Padgett. "Everyone has the right to fair trial. You know, that's why we have the judges system in place."

Dunn is not allowed to go back to the home or have contact with the victim.

Dunn remains in jail on $7,500 bail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.