West Valley City man beat child with metal bar over grades, police say

SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley City man was arrested after he allegedly beat his 11-year-old child with a metal bar over grades.

FOX 13 is not naming the suspect so as to not identify the child involved in the incident.

Police say they were alerted Tuesday to an 11-year-old being brought to Intermountain Medical Center with numerous contusions. The victim told an officer their father became upset after showing him their school grades.

The father reportedly grabbed a silver metal bar, told his child to put out their hands because they were “going to get a whooping.” The man began hitting the victim on the head, legs, arms and back.

During the beating, the child said their father said he was going to kill them.

After the father instructed another child to get a chord, the victim ran out of the home and contacted a neighbor, telling them they had been beaten.

Officials found large bruises and lacerations on the victim’s arms, legs and face. All of the bruises had a “distinct” outline and oval shape.

The suspect told police he had become upset when he learned his child was failing in class and “lost it,” admitting he was wrong to have beaten the child with a metal bar.

Police charged the suspect, who has a history with domestic violence, with child abuse.