Decatur man charged with child abuse | Crime

Decatur, AL (WAFF) - A 47 year old man is being held on child abuse charges after investigators discovered his teenage son was suffering from injuries all over his body.

According to Decatur Police, Douglas Barnett Harper was arrested this week after a month long investigation. The inquiry began in mid-December, when the boy's mother reported that her son had bruises and welts on his shoulders, back, arms, buttocks and legs. Some of the injuries left open wounds.

Police and the Department of Human Resources looked into the case and determined that the child was whipped by bundles of switches. Investigators made it clear that they felt this incident went beyond appropriate punishment or discipline and into criminal abuse.

The 14 year old child was treated and released from Parkway Medical Center.

Harper is being held in the Decatur City Jail on $40,000 bond.

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