NEW PORT RICHEY — A 30-year-old man is in jail on accusations he punched a toddler in the face. According to the New Port Richey Police Department, Nathan W. Merritt gave the 17-month-old boy a black eye.
A woman, whose relationship to the child was not disclosed, came home Tuesday night and told police she found Merritt holding the toddler face down on a bed and digging his thumb into the child's back. When questioned, Merritt told officers he didn't remember what happened, according to his arrest report.
Merritt, who lives at 5807 Wyoming Ave. in New Port Richey, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of child abuse. He remained Thursday at the Land O'Lakes jail in lieu of $2,000 bail.
Due to the nature of the charges, his relationship to the child was not released.
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