Dad arrested for beating 7-year-old son (Jupiter, Florida)

Dad is identified as NICHOLAS DEPALO.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/jupiter-man-arrested-for-beating-son-7-1998663.html

Jupiter man arrested for beating son, 7
By Alexandra Seltzer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Posted: 10:34 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2011


JUPITER — A 47-year-old father was arrested Saturday after a neighbor saw him beating his 7-year-old son, police say.

Nicholas DePalo, of Jupiter, was arrested on a charge of child abuse with assault or battery.

On Nov. 26 around noon, Jupiter Police officers arrived to DePalo's residence after a neighbor called police saying a child was being beaten.

The neighbor, Daniel Combs, said he heard a male screaming and looked out his back window and saw a child on the ground being "kicked and punched," a Jupiter Police probable cause affidavit says.

Combs said the boy was holding his mother's hands when DePalo picked him up by his feet and dropped him. He then kicked the child in the "back, legs, and hit him in the face," the affidavit says.

When officers arrived they spoke with DePalo who was hanging up Christmas lights.

DePalo told police his son was "acting up," the affidavit says.

The boy was in his bedroom and told police his dad hit him with his fist and kicked him while on the ground.

Officers examined the boy and found a "welt/abrasion" on his back.

DePalo admitted to hitting his son in the past with a sandal and sometimes the "situation gets out of control," the affidavit says.

DePalo was arrested at the scene and the Department of Children and Families were notified.

It is not known if the child was taken from the residence.