Sioux Falls Police Information Officer Sam Clemens says the father of a ten year old boy was arrested on felony child abuse charges.

"Dad had told the son to do something and the ten year old refused. Dad backhanded him! The child went to school on Thursday and had a fat lip. The staff noticed it and followed their procedures by calling Department of Social Services. They saw the injury and called police."

Clemens says it's important to report child abuse to the authorities as soon as possible.

"The ten year old knew that it wasn't right. There are probably a number of reasons why it wasn't reported on the evening it happened. But, eventually the incident was reported to police and we were able to get the dad arrested on those charges."

The father has been identified as 33-year-old Robert Lee Cross of Sioux Falls.

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