Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua White, 31, was arrested on Friday night following an incident of alleged child abuse. After an initial investigation, White was charged and taken to the county jail where he was placed on bond, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
White is placed on administrative leave and relieved of all law enforcement duties. The suspension from duty will remain in effect until a complete and thorough administrative review on the incident is concluded, the press release stated. An internal investigation will also ensue after criminal charges are concluded.
According to White’s arrest report, the incident was believed to take place around or on Thursday in which a witness claimed White had grabbed a four-year-old child by the neck and began "banging the child’s head on a hard surface multiple times with enough force to allow for bruising on the victim’s forehead," the report stated.
When questioned by an SRSO investigators at his residence, White reportedly said he would talk with the deputy about the incident, however before questioning began White invoked his right to counsel, according to the report.
Based on statements from the victim and the witness, including the findings of a forensic exam conducted on the child, the investigating deputy and department supervisors determined abuse had taken place.
White is facing once count of a third degree felony charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. His bond was set at $5,000 per statute, according to the sheriff’s office.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sheriff's Office: Deputy arrested for Child Abuse