Benton, Arkansas – Benton police have concluded their investigation into an alleged incident involving a child and a staff member at the city’s Boys & Girls Club, determining that the allegation was unfounded.
Police officials announced the conclusion Monday afternoon, following an investigation into an incident that was reported to have occurred August 24 at the Benton Boys & Girls Club.
The investigation began after a mother contacted police on August 25 and reported that a staff member at the club had punched her minor child in the stomach. According to the report, the alleged punch happened after the child and another child had been hitting each other.
Investigators reviewed security camera footage from the club and spoke with members of the facility’s staff as they worked to determine what happened.
According to Benton police, the video did not show the staff member striking the child. Investigators also said the footage did not show the two children hitting each other as described in the original allegation.
Police said there was a brief period when the child was not visible on camera. However, investigators reported that when the child came back into view, there were no visible signs of injury or distress.
The video review was one of the key parts of the investigation. Officers examined what could be seen before and after the portion of time when the child was briefly off-camera, but they did not find evidence supporting the allegation that a staff member had struck the child.
Investigators also attempted to obtain additional information through a forensic interview of the child. The interview was to be conducted through the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, which works with children involved in investigations of alleged abuse and other serious incidents.
Police said the scheduled forensic interview did not take place because the child and the mother did not appear for the appointment. Investigators said the interview was not subsequently rescheduled.
With the security footage reviewed, club personnel interviewed and the attempted forensic interview considered, Benton police said they had reached a conclusion about the allegation.
Based on the evidence available to investigators, officials determined that the allegation that a Boys & Girls Club staff member hit the child was unfounded.
The police department’s conclusion means investigators did not find evidence supporting the reported claim that the staff member punched the child in the stomach. Officials specifically pointed to the security footage and the lack of a completed forensic interview as factors considered during the investigation.
The case centered on an alleged incident at the Benton facility on August 24 and the complaint made to police the following day. After completing their review, authorities said there was not enough evidence to establish that the reported assault occurred.
Benton police officials said Monday that the investigation is now complete and that the allegation involving the club staff member has been classified as unfounded.
