Inset: Anthony Salazar (Chatham County Jail). Background: The Hinesville, Ga., car wash area where Salazar’s daughter reportedly waved down police (Google Maps).
A Georgia man is facing serious child abuse charges after his 11-year-old daughter stopped a police officer and said she believed her father was trying to kill her, authorities said.
Anthony Salazar, 35, has been charged with one count of first-degree child cruelty, one count of aggravated battery, and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children, according to the Hinesville Police Department.
The case began on April 19 near a car wash on Elma G. Miles Parkway in Hinesville, a city in southeast Georgia located about 42 miles southwest of Savannah.
According to an incident report obtained by Savannah-based CBS affiliate WTOC, the girl flagged down a patrol vehicle, and the responding officer observed that she appeared visibly upset.
The child told police that her father had beaten her, law enforcement officials said.
When officers later spoke with Salazar, he allegedly acknowledged hitting his daughter with a belt and said police would be able to see her injuries, authorities said. Officers reported finding significant bruising and welts on both of the child’s legs, according to the incident report.
Investigators said Salazar had been drinking earlier in the day. During a search of the family’s home, police collected a black leather belt and a T-ball bat as evidence in the investigation.
At the time of the incident, the girl’s two younger brothers, ages 6 and 7, were also in the house. The father told police he beat the girl as an example to the boys, according to the incident report.
The girl initially declined medical attention, police said. Instead, she told the officers that she was more concerned with the safety of her younger brothers, law enforcement said.
The children’s mother was also present in the residence at the time of the incident, police noted. For that reason, child welfare authorities were not called to assess the situation.
Hinesville Police Chief Tracey Howard told WTOC the girl’s bravery likely proved critical on the day in question. The chief also took the opportunity to address the community about child abuse.
“Be mindful of the lasting effects that it can have on a child and also what repeat behavior it can contribute to,” Howard said.
Salazar was booked in Chatham County Jail and released two days later, the TV station reported this week. The defendant is subject to a no-contact order while out on bond.
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