Police said the visibly distressed 11-year-old had bruises and welts and feared for her two younger brothers.
HINESVILLE, Ga. — A Georgia father faces felony child cruelty and aggravated battery charges after his 11-year-old daughter flagged down a police officer and said her father had beaten her and was trying to kill her, authorities said.
Anthony Salazar, 35, was arrested following the April 19 encounter near a car wash on Elma G. Miles Parkway in Hinesville. Police said the girl appeared visibly distressed when she stopped a passing patrol vehicle. Officers reported finding severe bruising and welts on both of her legs.
Salazar is charged with first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated battery and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children under Georgia’s Family Violence Act, according to police. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the available reports did not identify an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
According to an incident report obtained by WTOC, the girl told the officer that Salazar had beaten her. Police said Salazar acknowledged striking his daughter with a belt and told officers that her injuries would be visible. The report also said he had been drinking earlier that day.
Investigators later searched the family’s home and collected a black leather belt and a T-ball bat as evidence, authorities said. Police did not publicly specify how they believe the bat was connected to the alleged assault.
The girl’s brothers, ages 6 and 7, were inside the home during the incident, according to police. Salazar allegedly told officers that he punished the girl as an example to the younger children. That allegation led to the two third-degree child cruelty charges, authorities said.
Although officers observed injuries, the girl initially declined medical treatment. Police said she told them she was more concerned about the safety of her younger brothers than about herself. The children’s mother was also at the residence, according to the incident report.
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services did not respond to the scene because the children’s mother was present, WTOC reported, citing the police report. Authorities have not released further information about the children’s current living arrangements or whether child welfare officials later opened a separate investigation.
Hinesville Police Chief Tracey Howard credited the girl with taking action when she saw the patrol vehicle. Howard said her decision to seek help likely made a critical difference and warned that abuse can have lasting effects on children and contribute to repeated harmful behavior.
Salazar was booked into the Chatham County Jail after his arrest. He was released on bond two days later under an order barring him from contacting the alleged victims, according to local reporting. Details about future court dates were not available in the reports reviewed Friday.
The investigation and criminal case remain pending. Salazar is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and police have not released the child’s name because she is a minor.