BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
STARKE— Police arrested a 19-year-old Starke woman after she allegedly punched a 12-year-old boy of whom she was babysitting.
Aaliyah Shante Martin was arrested for battery, child cruelty and child neglect on Sunday, Jan. 23.
According to an arrest report, the victim’s mother told police she went out to celebrate her boyfriend’s birthday and left her two children in the care of the defendant and another person.
During the outing, she received a phone call from her 12-year-old son telling her Martin struck him in the head twice while he was holding his little brother, who has Downs syndrome.
The victim told police that the defendant splashed water on him, and he retaliated, thinking that she was playing.
“Aaliyah then threw a bottle at the victim,” wrote arresting officer Joseph Forbes. “(The victim) advised Aaliyah then proceeded to strike him in the left eye with a closed fist.”
The victim added that when attempting to protect himself, he briefly lost control of the sibling he was holding, but regained control of his brother before he hit the ground.
Police wrote that they spoke to three witnesses who confirmed the victim and defendant were throwing liquids at each other before Martin struck the boy.
