OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – An Opa-locka police officer has been accused of punching a teenage boy, breaking his jaw.
Broward County sheriff's deputies said Lowrie Simon, 37, attacked 17-year-old Kristian Stanley on Sunday because Simon believed that Stanley was having sex with his 13-year-old daughter.
Opa-Locka police Chief James Dobson said Lowrie has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal and internal affairs investigations. He has been an officer since October 2014, Dobson said.
Dobson said that Lowrie was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault, and he was in not in uniform.
Deputies said Simon approached Kristian Stanley about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at Pembroke Park Church of Christ in the 3700 block of Southwest 56th Avenue.
After Stanley denied that he was having a sexual relationship with Simon's daughter, deputies said, Simon punched Stanley in the chest and later struck him across the mouth.
After the incident, Stanley received treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, deputies said. Stanley's jaw had been broken and he suffered substantial damage to his lower set of teeth, deputies said.
Simon was arrested later on Sunday and was charged with one count of felony battery. He was freed Monday on a $5,000 bond.