Brian Hamacher

Police Say Man Hit Boy on Head With Phone for Guessing on Homework Problem

A Broward County man was arrested after authorities say he struck a 6-year-old boy in the head with a cellphone after the child guess on a homework problem.

Clement Watkins, 44, was arrested Tuesday on a child abuse charge in the Nov. 3 incident, according to a Broward Sheriff's Office arrest report.

The report said Watkins became upset when the boy guessed on a homework problem so he hit him with the cellphone, causing a laceration. Watkins told the boy to take a shower and clean himself up, but never took him to a doctor and didn't treat the wound, the report said.

"The method of punishment for the child guessing on his homework is excessive," the report said.

Watkins told authorities he tossed the phone up three flights of stairs and the boy didn't catch it, the report said.

Watkins was booked into jail where he was being held on $5,000 bond Wednesday, records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

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