A Tampa man is accused of forcing the boy to hold a weighted bar as punishment and hitting him when the child lowered it, according to the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Tampa man repeatedly hit an 11-year-old boy with a PVC pipe while at a Brandon fitness center, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

Michael J. Hernandez, 35, of Tampa, was charged with child abuse.

Deputies said the abuse happened about 7 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 9) at Phase 5 Fitness, 202 Moon St. S. Hernandez, who is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 350 pounds, “maliciously and repeatedly” struck the child on his buttocks, legs and lower back using a PVC pipe. The boy suffered multiple bruises.

During the investigation, deputies said they learned that Hernandez would punish the boy by making him hold a weighted bar. If the child lowered the bar, Hernandez repeatedly used the PVC pipe to strike him in the buttocks, legs and lower back.

For information about the Hillsborough sheriff, go to hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Child Abuse | Arrests | Tampabay News

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