PHOENIX — A teen boy had to have a nose bone surgically removed after he was assaulted by his mother's ex-boyfriend at the family's Phoenix home.
Phoenix police report that on November 12, 43-year-old Lonnie Terrell entered the home of his ex-girlfriend near 7th and Dunlap avenues.
Once inside, he started yelling at the 13-year-old and his brothers to clean up the house. The boy screamed and cursed at Terrell, who then allegedly pinned the boy down on the couch and punched him several times in the face.
Police say Terrell broke three bones in the child's nose. Court records show that surgeons could only partially repair the damage. One bone was too damaged and had to be removed from the boy's nose, according to police.
Upon his arrest on December 20, Terrell reportedly told police that he was play fighting with the victim and, "accidentally bumped him in the nose."
Terrell was given a $75,000 bond for child abuse.
If you suspect a child is being abused, the Arizona Department of Child Services has resources available to report the issue to a social worker. You can call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and will be asked for information about the child, as well as the nature of your concerns. You can also get more information from DCS about reporting abuse or neglect online.
