Injury to a Child: ‘I hit them with an army belt,’ suspect allegedly told police

An El Paso man is accused of hitting two boys because they wanted to go to school, a criminal complaint obtained by ABC-7 states.

Carlos Garcia, 32, is charged with two counts of Injury to a Child. The alleged abuse was reported Friday, October 13, 2017 at a home on the 10600 block of Galatea Place.

Garcia allegedly told officers he had to discipline a 13-year-old boy because he believed the boy physically hurt another eight-year-old boy in the house.

The 13-year-old told investigators Garcia was upset when he noticed scratches on the neck of the eight-year-old child. Garcia asked the eight-year-old how he got those scratches and the boy said he did not know. The 13-year-old child said Garcia did not believe them, took them both out to the back yard and hit them with a belt.

The next morning, Garcia allegedly told the boys they were not going to school. The 13-year-old told Garcia they could not miss class because of testing. Garcia allegedly took out the belt and hit the boys all over their bodies, the criminal complaint states. Garcia then took the 13-year-old to a bedroom, where he allegedly punched him in the stomach, the document further states.

When investigators spoke with the 8-year-old child, the boy said Garcia hit him and the 13-year-old boy with a belt in the back. When asked why, the boy told police Garcia was upset because they wanted to go to school and he did not want to take them to school.

Police said both boys had injuries on their backs, legs and faces that appeared to be caused by a belt. When police asked Garcia if he was responsible for the bruises, Garcia allegedly replied, “I did it. I hit then with an army belt.”

Garcia was booked into the El Paso County Jail that same day on bonds totaling $30,000.