TAMPA, Fla. -- A Tampa man has been arrested and charged with child abuse after he reportedly beat an 11-year-old boy with a PVC pipe in a local gym.
Deputies say Michael Hernandez, 35, would punish the 11-year-old boy by making him hold a weighted bar and if the victim lowered the bar, Hernandez would repeatedly use the PVC pipe to strike the boy in the buttocks, legs and lower back.
The incident occurred on Thursday, November 9 at approximately 7 p.m. at the Phase 5 gym located at 202 Moon Street S.
The victim suffered multiple bruises from the abuse.
Hernandez was arrested at his home in Tampa without incident and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.
Deputies continue to investigate the incident.
