Man left 5-year-old bruised and broken after trying to 'beat the gay out of him,' police say 

A 33-year-old antheral successful Florida is accused of brutally beating a 5-year-old lad due to the fact that helium believed the kid was homosexual, allegedly telling deputies helium was trying to "beat the cheery retired of him" during a convulsive attack.

Andre Brown Jr. was taken into custody implicit the play and charged with 1 number of aggravated child abuse — a beingness felony enhanced arsenic a hatred transgression — arsenic good arsenic 1 number of resisting arrest, authorities announced.

According to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the probe began erstwhile a 9-year-old miss successful Brown's attraction contacted her parent to study that the 5-year-old was being abused, aboriginal sending a substance connection that read, "I'm scared, he's whooping him truthful hard, I'm scared."

During interviews with investigators, the children described a signifier of escalating violence. Deputies said Brown became aggravated with the 5-year-old lad "for being gay" and responded by "slamming him connected the crushed aggregate times." He past allegedly turned his choler connected the different 2 children successful the home, striking each 3 with a loop implicit what authorities described arsenic a anterior incident.

When deputies arrived, they allegedly recovered disposable injuries connected each 3 children. The 5-year-old unfortunate suffered the astir terrible harm, with marks and bruising covering his legs, arms, back, and stomach, on with a fractured close wrist and a contusion connected his forehead, constabulary said, adding that the different children besides had bruising connected their arms and legs.

According to the sheriff's office, the youngest unfortunate appeared terrified during his interrogation and was reluctant to talk further, telling investigators helium was "afraid of Brown."

Authorities said Brown admitted to targeting the kid due to the fact that of his intersexual orientation.

"Brown told deputies that helium decided to whoop the unfortunate due to the fact that the unfortunate was gay," the merchandise states. "He advised helium would 'beat the cheery retired of him if possible, but since it wasn't imaginable helium would bushed him more.'"

Investigators determined the onslaught met the criteria for a hatred crime, elevating the severity of the charge.

"Due to Brown maliciously beating the kid and causing a fracture to his close wrist for the content of being gay, this transgression is classified arsenic a hatred crime, and has been enhanced 1 degree," the merchandise said.

When deputies attempted to instrumentality Brown into custody, helium allegedly resisted, pulling distant and becoming progressively agitated. Authorities said helium continued yelling slurs adjacent aft being placed successful handcuffs.

"This was a brutal and hateful onslaught connected a defenseless child. There is perfectly nary excuse for it," Sheriff Grady Judd said successful a statement. "We volition marque definite justness is served and these children get the information and enactment they deserve."

Officials besides noted Brown has an extended transgression history, including anterior convictions and arrests for convulsive offenses specified arsenic aggravated artillery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping with intent to perpetrate a felony, location penetration robbery with a firearm, and home artillery by strangulation, among galore different charges.

Brown is presently being held successful the Polk County Jail. It was not instantly wide erstwhile helium was scheduled to look successful court.