Dad charged in beating of 5-year-old daughter during visitation (Cape Coral, Florida)

So how did RICKEY ANTHONY WASHINGTON get child visitation and who gave it to him?

Notice that this father left a 5-year-old child alone in the middle of the night, and then saw fit to beat her for using a cell phone to call for help. 

http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=14601045

Cape man arrested, charged with child abusePosted: May 09, 2011 2:44 PM CDT
Updated: May 09, 2011 3:29 PM CDT

CAPE CORAL - A Cape Coral man was arrested and charged with child abuse after his daughter claimed she was beaten with a belt and metal coat hanger, according to Cape Coral Police.

On April 20th, a Lehigh Acres woman notified the Cape Coral Police Department that her 5-year-old daughter had been beaten by her father, Rickey Anthony Washington, 23, while she was visiting his Cape Coral home.

In an interview with child protective investigators, the girl said she had woken up in the middle of the night to find that no one was home. She then used her father's girlfriend's cell phone to call for help before going back to sleep.

Shortly afterwards, the girl says Washington woke her up and asked her about the phone call.

She told police he slapped her, then got a metal coat hanger from the closet and spanked her with it, reports said.

She also told investigators that Washington also used a belt to spank her, according to reports.

An inspection of the girl's buttocks revealed several bruises and cuts.

The Florida Department of Children and Families, as well as Cape Police attempted to contact Washington after the alleged crime was reported in order to interview him, but he would not respond.

Surveillance was conducted on his residence by the Cape Coral Police Department's Street Crimes Unit and he was apprehended on May 6th and transported to police headquarters for an interview.

Washington admitted to spanking his daughter with a belt for lying, but denied using a coat hanger.

Police determined that the extent of her injuries showed more marks than the beating Washington described.

He was charged with aggravated child abuse and taken to the Lee County Jail.