DOTHAN, Ala. – A Dothan man has been arrested and charged with child abuse after police say he physically assaulted a juvenile during an attempt to discipline them. The incident occurred Monday, when Dothan Police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of Ashland Drive.
Upon arrival, officers discovered that 32-year-old Zavier Jenkins was involved in the disturbance. Authorities say Jenkins grabbed a juvenile by the shirt and slammed them onto both a bed and the floor multiple times. The child, who is under the age of 16, was reportedly injured during the incident.
According to Dothan Police Lt. Scott Owens, Jenkins claimed he was attempting to discipline the juvenile, but his actions crossed a clear line.
“We support a parent’s right to discipline their child, but there is a line, and unfortunately, he crossed that line,” Lt. Owens explained in a statement.
Jenkins was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse. He was booked into the Houston County Jail with a bond set at $15,000, the maximum bond allowed for a Class C felony.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the boundaries between discipline and abuse, urging parents to carefully consider the methods they use to correct their children’s behavior. Authorities have made it clear that while discipline is a parent’s right, violent or harmful actions will not be tolerated.
