Coffee County deputies arrested a 41-year-old Douglas man Sunday on child abuse, battery, and other charges after he caused substantial harm to his father and injured another nine-year-old victim.
Deputies were dispatched to a residence off Hillcrest Road around 1 p.m. Sunday in reference to a fight in progress between a father and son. When deputies arrived, they observed the 64-year-old victim sitting in a chair on the front porch bleeding extensively from between his eyes around the top of his nose. The victim stated his son, identified as John Christopher Harrell, had punched him with a closed fist after he attempted to intervene when he witnessed Harrell hitting the juvenile victim.
The juvenile also had visible injuries to his body, which were photographed and documented at the scene along with corroborating witness testimonies. Harrell was arrested and transported to the Coffee County Jail. He faces charges of first degree cruelty to children and domestic violence battery, along with additional drug charges after being found to be in the illegal possession of a quantity of controlled substance prescription pills.
