A North Carolina couple has been arrested after allegedly tying their 4-year-old daughter to a baby gate and hitting her so hard that her lower teeth broke through her lower lip, say police.
Gerald Thomas Swinehart, 26, and Marlaine Victoria Coffey, 28, reportedly constrained their daughter with zip ties, plastic ties normally used by electricians and law enforcement, binding her feet and wrists to the gate while her father struck her in the face, The Associated Press reported.
According to warrants obtained by local ABC News affiliate WTVD-TV, the alleged abuse occurred earlier this year at some point between Feb. 1 and the end of March. The child was taken into the custody of social services March 31.
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It was not reported how police became aware the alleged abuse was taking place.
Swinehart has been charged with two counts of intentional child abuse inflicting serious physical injury. He is being held on a $100,000 bail.
Coffey faces one count of intentional child abuse, and is being held on a $50,000 bond.
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