A Round Lake Park police officer has been charged after he allegedly struck his girlfriend’s 5-year-old child with a paddle numerous times, hospitalizing her, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
Wayman G. Vela, 55, of the 21600 block of West Grass Lake Road in unincorporated Antioch, was charged with one count of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that a mandated reporter made a report with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) about a five-year-old girl who was battered. The DCFS agent investigating the case then notified the Lake County Sheriff’s Office around 11:45 a.m. Friday.
Detectives began an investigation and learned that Vela reportedly struck his girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter ‘numerous times’ on the lower back with a paddle, Lake County Sheriff Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
The 5-year-old girl was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and evaluation, Covelli said. The extent of her injuries were not immediately released.
Vela was arrested Saturday around 9 a.m. and transported to the Lake County Jail where he remains held on a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 10.
Covelli said that Vela is a Round Lake Park police officer and that Round Lake Park police officials have been cooperating throughout the investigation.