Shandel Bryan {BSO}
A North Lauderdale man was arrested on charges of child abuse without great bodily harm after being caught on video beating his son in a Coconut Creek parking lot.
According to a Coconut Creek Police Department arrest report, Shandel Bryan, 41, of North Lauderdale, was arrested in the Vista Verde development on March 26 following reports of alleged child abuse of his son.
On the afternoon of the reported incident, officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving a call about a possible case of child abuse. Upon arrival, they were presented with a recorded video that captured the mistreatment in a parking lot of the Vista Verde residential area.
The video reportedly shows Bryan in a heated altercation with a minor, later identified as his son, who is seen visibly distressed on the ground, pleading for Bryan to stop hurting him.
Records show Bryan is observed kicking the victim multiple times in the abdomen and legs before striking the child with both open palms and closed fists a total of 33 times across the face and arms. Throughout the ordeal, the boy remains defenseless, pleading for mercy.
Witnesses at the scene provided statements to officers corroborating the events captured on video.
Following their viewing of the video, officers immediately arrested Bryan. After being read his Miranda rights, Bryan attempted to justify the abuse as an act of discipline, citing the child’s recent expulsion from school and behavioral issues as triggers for the attack.
Bryan was transported to the Broward County Main Jail.
According to Local10, during an emotional appearance in Broward County court on Wednesday, Bryan communicated with his defense through tears.
“Kicking a 9-year-old child approximately five times — while he is on the ground in his abdomen — in his legs and striking and punching a 9-year-old child approximately 32 times about his face and arms in no way shape or form could be defined as disciplinary,” Local10 reported Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder said Bryan during the hearing.
Bryan has been ordered to have no contact with the child and set a $5,000 bond.
Coconut Creek has not released the video despite our requests.
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