Police say a Miami mother ended up in handcuffs after hitting her 7-year-old autistic son with a belt because he kissed a classmate on the cheek at school. The boy was found with visible bruises and has been removed from the home, according to authorities.
Police report details
According to the arrest report, officers documented several injuries on the child, including a small red dot near his right eye and a purple-and-red mark stretching from his right cheek to behind his ear. The officer also noted line marks on the boy’s left arm and bruising behind his legs.
The child told investigators his mother used a brown belt to hit him. During a child-protection interview, he was so frightened that he wet himself, the report states, as reported by Local 10.
Child-protection team and advocacy response
The chain of events started at school, where classmates told a teacher about the classroom kiss. From there, the incident was referred to child-protection authorities, and a case coordinator with the University of Miami Child Protection Team met with the boy.
The UM Child Protection Team is a medically directed, multidisciplinary program that partners with law enforcement and the Florida Department of Children and Families to evaluate suspected child maltreatment. Kristi House, a local child-advocacy organization, coordinates medical, legal and therapeutic services for abused children across Miami-Dade County.
Arrest and legal context
Miami police arrested 27-year-old Kelly Michel in Overtown, according to the report. She was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is facing a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
Under Florida law, knowingly or willfully abusing a child without causing great bodily harm is classified as a third-degree felony. The penalties and definitions are outlined in Florida Statute 827.03, as published by the Florida Legislature. The arrest details were reported by Local 10.
Why this matters
Experts note that children with disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, are at higher risk for maltreatment and often face added challenges when it comes to reporting or describing abuse. The American Academy of Pediatrics has documented increased rates of physical abuse and neglect among children with disabilities and stresses the importance of multidisciplinary evaluations and support systems.
Florida’s Department of Children and Families urges anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected to contact the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 or visit the Florida Department of Children and Families website.
