Inset: Husain Maki Habib (Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center). Background: The Miami-area location where Habib is accused of physically abusing his 11-year-old daughter (Google Maps).
A 53-year-old Florida father is facing a felony child abuse charge after police said he kicked his 11-year-old daughter and repeatedly forced her head against the floor inside their home.
Husain Maki Habib was arrested and charged with one count of felony child abuse without great bodily harm, according to court records.
Habib and the girl’s mother are divorced and maintain separate residences. They share custody of their two daughters, who are 11 and 14 years old.
The investigation began shortly after 9 a.m. on Sept. 17, when the younger daughter called her mother from school. She reportedly told her that an incident involving Habib had taken place at the family residence the night before. The mother then contacted the City of Doral Police Department, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
The mother told investigators that Habib had ordered the girl to shut off her iPad and prepare for bed. When she allegedly failed to do so quickly enough, Habib took the device and smashed its screen with a hammer, police said.
The affidavit states that Habib threatened to smash the girl’s head and throw her from the balcony if she did not obey.
The girl then went to the bedroom she shared with her older sister, according to the report.
Police said Habib followed her into the room, pushed her to the floor, kicked her several times and forced her head against the ground.
The girl told investigators that most of the alleged blows landed on her lower back and legs. She also said Habib pushed her head into the floor approximately eight times.
The child was taken to nearby HCA Emergency, where medical staff determined that she had minor contusions in the areas where she said she had been struck.
Investigators also spoke with the girl’s older sister. She reportedly said Habib became angry after the younger child continued using her iPad despite being told to stop and get ready for bed. The ensuing argument ended with Habib breaking the tablet with a hammer, the affidavit states.
The older sister told police that Habib then escorted the younger girl to the bedroom and pushed her toward the bed.
The girl fell to the floor, according to the affidavit. Her sister told investigators that Habib struck her once on the arm with an open hand and kicked her about three times near the lower back or shin.
After his arrest, Habib declined to speak with police without an attorney present. He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for booking and later released after posting $2,500 bond, records show.
Court records did not immediately indicate when Habib was due to appear before a judge.
The post Dad beat, kicked 11-year-old daughter for playing with iPad after bedtime, threatened to ‘throw her off the balcony’: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
