Tampa police say woman struck 1-year-old who ate some of her pot

TAMPA — A woman was arrested Sunday on child abuse and neglect charges after she beat a 1-year-old child in her care for eating some marijuana, according to Tampa police.

While unsupervised Sunday morning, the child found a bag of the substance in a purse belonging to India Trane Couch, 22, according to a police report.

Upon discovering the child had eaten some of the marijuana, Couch began to strike the child on her rear end with a sandal, police said. She also hit the child on her left arm, leaving three small welts.

When another adult tried to intervene, Couch picked up a 5-pound dumbbell and hit him in the back and chest with it, causing minor injuries, police said.

Police also charged Couch with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of cannabis. She was being held without bail Sunday in the Hillsborough County Jail.