Police: Dad hit, choked daughters with USB cable (Tarpon Springs, Florida)

Dad RAKESH PATEL is accused of using USB cable to hit and choke his daughters. He's charged with two felony counts of aggravated child abuse. The girls ran away from home after the incident, and the father had reported them missing. Apparently on their own, the girls went to the police department and reported the abuse. They also said the father had beat them in the past (no surprise there). The girls are now in the custody of child protection.

Is this a custodial dad? Sure sounds like it. There is no mention of a mother AT ALL.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/tarpon-springs-father-hit-daughters-with-usb-cable-police-say/1094190

Tarpon Springs father hit daughters with USB cable, police say
By Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

TARPON SPRINGS — A 49-year-old Tarpon Springs man is accused of using a USB cable to hit and choke his daughters.

Rakesh Patel, of 1594 Bridgewater Drive, was arrested Monday on two felony counts of aggravated child abuse.

On Tuesday afternoon, he was held without bail in the Pinellas County Jail.

Both girls were removed from the home by child protection team investigators, arrest reports say.

According to arrest reports, Patel awoke his two daughters at 8 a.m. Friday by hitting them with the cable, used to connect electronic devices. Patel was yelling at the children, whose ages were not released, because he wanted to know "who they hang out with," the reports say.

Patel wrapped the cord around one daughter's face and pulled her backward with the cord stuck in her mouth, Tarpon police said.

When the other daughter came into the room to ask what he was doing, he put the cord around her neck, cutting off her air supply for several seconds.

The girls ran away from home after the incident and Patel reported them missing Monday.

The girls came to the Police Department on Monday and told police their story of abuse. One daughter said their father has beaten them in the past.

Patel told police he used the USB cable cord to hit the girls' comforters on their beds, but did not strike them.

Patel does not have a criminal record in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.