Ocala, Florida — An Ocala woman was arrested Wednesday after she beat her child with tree branches.
Deputies were dispatched to the area of Northwest Third Place after witnesses reported seeing the woman beating and yelling at a 4-year-old little girl.
When a deputy arrived on the scene, he could hear the little girl screaming. The screams were coming from a car parked in the yard.
The deputy also reported that he witnessed the suspect, later identified as Ebony S. Allen, 36, yelling at the child.
According to reports, the deputy opened the car door and asked the 4-year-old to come out of the vehicle. However, the little girl would not.
The 4-year-old said, “I can’t, my legs hurt too bad.” She told the deputy that she could not walk.
The little girl also begged the deputy to make Allen stop hurting her.
The deputy was finally able to get the girl to come out of the car after he promised her he was there to help.
The deputy stated that the girl had multiple welts on her shoulder/collarbone area as well as on her inner and outer thighs.
The deputy reported that some of the welts were so bad that they were bleeding.
According to a witness, Allen’s car was overheating and Allen told the girl to turn on the outside water spigot so she could cool down the car. That is when the little girl told Allen she was afraid of the lizards that usually hang out around the faucet and did not want to turn the water on.
According to reports, Allen began arguing with the child and lost her temper.
The witness stated,”Allen removed two tree branches and began hitting the little girl with all her might.” The witness then called 911.
Allen stated that she did not feel as though she had done anything wrong. She said, “I was just disciplining her.”
Allen is a school bus aide who works with special needs children.
She was arrested and charged with Aggravated Child Abuse.
Allen is currently being held on a $5,000 bond. Her next court date is set for November 17.