A Wildwood man is jailed after he allegedly beat a child with a belt.
The investigation began with a report of physical abuse to the Middle Township police Sunday.
Calvin Crawley Sr., 33, allegedly beat the child after the victim — whose age was not made public — had an argument with his younger brother while visiting a relative's home.
"Yo, I just beat the shit out of (child's name redacted). I don't play these games," Crawley allegedly told the mother in a phone call, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The younger brother, age 4, told police he was playing with Legos and his brother kept messing them up, the affidavit states. The older brother then became angry.
That is when, according to both children, Crawley took off his belt and hit the older boy 15 to 20 times with the belt.
Photographs provided to police showed redness and welts, according to the affidavit.
Crawley told police that he had taken the victim to a birthday party, and then to the relatives home in Cape May Court House, where he said the child was rude.
Crawley told police "he hit (the child) with an open hand on his arm and told him to stop," the affidavit states.
When the child continued to be rude and started ripping at the younger boy's jacket, Crawley said "he then removed his belt and struck (the victim) with the belt approximately six or seven times."
"Crawley Sr. stated he was well aware of his action the entire time and stated he struck (the child) so many times because he was laughing and being disrespectful," the affidavit states.
He was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a weapon and possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Crawley was in the Cape May County Correctional Center pending a detention hearing.
