What should have been a normal breakfast with family turned into a hospital visit with allegations of child abuse. A police officer in California is facing a felony charge after he is suspected of choking his young son when the boy didn’t finish his food within a time limit.
Steven Romero, a deputy at the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office in California, was accused of attacking his five-year-old son for not eating his breakfast within a 15-minute timeframe at their home in Livermore back in March. The young boy was reportedly in the care of Romero and his wife, the son’s stepmother, when the incident occurred, according to KTVU.
Romero, who described himself as someone who “believes in being dependable when it matters most” on his LinkedIn, allegedly punished his son by making him jump rope initially. However, when the son failed to jump fast enough by Romero’s standards, the punishment supposedly escalated.
Prosecutors charge police officer with child abuse
Romero allegedly choked his son several times by the neck and mouth before dragging the young boy to his room by the ear. Per the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, the pressure was hard enough that it left visible bruises on him.
Romero’s son was later brought to the hospital and was seen by an attending doctor, who concluded that the injuries observed were typical of those associated with physical abuse. It remains unclear who took his son to get treated at the hospital and whether the stepmother was involved…