Florida Father Charged with Child Abuse After Beating 11-Year-Old Over iPad

Husain Habib, 53, allegedly kicked his daughter and slammed her head into the floor after she kept using her iPad past bedtime. He was charged with felony child abuse and released on $2,500 bond.

Florida Father Accused of Kicking Daughter, Slamming Her Head Over Bedtime iPad Use

A 53-year-old Doral, Florida man is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly kicking his 11-year-old daughter multiple times and repeatedly forcing her head into the floor because she would not put down her iPad at bedtime.

Husain Maki Habib was arrested and charged with one count of felony child abuse without great bodily harm, according to court records cited by Law & Crime.

The incident

The case came to light on the morning of Sept. 17, when the girl called her mother from school shortly after 9 a.m. and described what had happened the night before at her father's residence. The mother then contacted the City of Doral Police Department.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, Habib had instructed his daughter to turn off her iPad and go to bed. When she did not comply quickly enough, he allegedly took the tablet and smashed its screen with a hammer.

"The defendant stated that if she did not listen, he would smash her head and throw her off the balcony," the affidavit states.

Attack in the bedroom

The girl retreated to the bedroom she shares with her 14-year-old sister. Habib followed her inside.

"The defendant entered the bedroom and allegedly pushed the victim to the floor," police wrote. "The victim reported the defendant kicked her multiple times while she was on the floor and pushed her head into the ground."

The girl told investigators her father kicked her primarily in the lower back and legs, and that he pushed her head into the floor approximately eight times.

She was taken to a nearby HCA Emergency facility for treatment. Doctors documented minor contusions in the areas she identified as having been struck.

Older sister corroborates account

Police also interviewed the 14-year-old sister, who confirmed that Habib became upset because the younger girl continued to use her iPad after being told to stop. A verbal argument preceded the physical confrontation, after which Habib broke the tablet with a hammer, per the affidavit.

The older sister said Habib then walked the victim toward the bedroom and pushed her in the direction of the bed. Her account of what followed differed slightly from the younger girl's in degree but not in substance.

"The victim fell to the ground," police wrote. "The defendant then struck the victim with an open hand on her arm and kicked her approximately three times near the lower back or shin area."

Custody and arrest

Habib and the children's mother are divorced and share custody of their two daughters. Following his arrest, Habib declined to give a statement without an attorney present and was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He was subsequently released after posting a $2,500 bond.

No court date had been publicly announced at the time of reporting.

Source: Law & Crime