Dwight Howard Under Criminal Investigation, Allegedly Beat Son With Belt Buckle
NBA star Dwight Howard is currently under criminal investigation for child abuse.
TMZ Sports claims that the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia have begun an active criminal investigation into the allegations that Dwight Howard beat his son, 6-year-old Braylon, with a belt buckle.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Department of Children and Families located in Florida concluded that there was not enough evidence showing signs of child abuse to proceed with the case. However, it was since been discovered that the incident took place in Georgia.
TMZ further reports that the Department of Children and Families did not cooperate willingly with Georgia police after they asked for the file on the Dwight Howard case, which is why it became a cold case. However, once the summary of a doctor’s findings were made public, Cobb County detective decided to look into the case further.
“People who were not so forthcoming before [Monday] have been.”
According to the summary provided by TMZ, the doctor was able to determine that Braylon’s injuries were consistent the allegations.
“Dr. Kesler noted the child to have a linear bruise and patterned abrasions consistent with the history given by the child of being struck with a belt numerous times by his father. The report goes on to say the injuries were ‘consistent with the child being struck with the buckle end of the belt… with excessive force, resulting in soft tissue injuries such as bruising and abrasions.’ And the report indicates Dr. Kesler found the injuries lasted longer than 24 hours and were ‘consistent with a medical diagnosis of physical abuse.'”
An inside source in Georgia law enforcement reportedly claims that detectives have conducted multiple one-on-one interviews.
The 28-year-old Houston Rockets center has admitted that he did hit his child with a belt. However, he did not see anything wrong with it since he claims to have been beaten with a belt as a child himself.
The attorney for Dwight Howard, David Oscar Markus, reportedly told TMZ that Royce Reed, Braylon’s mother, is shopping ‘baseless allegations” even after the Department of Children and Families in Florida reportedly found that those claims did not have any merit.
In an official statement to the Orlando Sentinel, Dwight Howard’s attorney went as far as claiming that Basketball Wives star Royce Reed was using her son as a “pawn” against Dwight.
“It is troubling to see a mother use her son as a pawn against his father, which is what is happening in this case. Dwight Howard will continue to act in the best interest of his children and do whatever is necessary to protect their welfare and best interests.”
Markus feels that Dwight Howard doesn’t have anything to worry about since he is reportedly confident that Georgia will reach the same conclusion as Florida law enforcement, stating that “the truth is on our side.”
[Image Credit: Huffington Post]
