Dad arrested for "severely beating" 5-month-old (Palm Beach, Florida)

Caretaking dad MARK PETERS just couldn't handle it when his 5-month old daughter "resisted eating" (whatever that means). So he hit her in the face at least 5 times, injuring her "pretty severely." Though the mom took the baby to the police department the very next day to report, she may face neglect charges for failing to report "right away." Whether she was even able to get away from the abuser with the child before then is not clear. It seems that all moms are supposed to be superheros and prevail no matter what--don't we wish. So naturally, the Department of Children and Family Services has taken the child away from her.

Palm Bay man arrested for striking infant

Anika Myers Palm Sentinel Staff Writer

11:56 AM EDT, June 18, 2009

A Palm Bay dad may spend Father's Day weekend in jail on charges of abusing his 5-month-old daughter.

The Palm Bay Police Department arrested Mark Peters, 28, on Wednesday after his daughter's mother went to the police department to show the infant's bruises to officers.

Paramedics treated the child and transported her to the hospital for evaluation.

"This baby girl is lucky she wasn't more seriously injured than she was," said Palm Bay special victims unit Detective Greg Guillette. "She was beaten pretty severely."

Police think the abuse happened sometime Tuesday.

Peters, who faces a judge today at 1 p.m. at the Brevard County Detention Center, said he had hit the girl in the face at least five times because she resisted eating.

The Department of Children and Family Services has custody of the little girl while the investigation is ongoing.

The child's mother may also face neglect charges for failing to report the abuse right away.