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Brandon Man Charged With Abusing 3-Year-Old

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

Derell Antonio Garland

An 18-year-old Brandon man was arrested Wednesday night and charged with aggravated child abuse after Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigators said injuries to the 3-year-old could not have happened the way he described.

On May 2, according to a criminal report affidavit, Derell Antonio Garland "unlawfully fractured" the 3-year-old's right leg.

This is the deputies' version of what happened at 833 Tealwood Drive, according to the affidavit.

Garland was the only person with the child. About 11 p.m., the child suffered the broken leg. When deputies arrived, Garland told them he threw the child on a bed and that the child's leg struck a headboard before the child fell to the floor.

A medical review by William Brooks, a doctor with the child protection team, determined that the injury was not possible the way Garland described it, the report states.

Garland, who lists himself in jail records as working retail stock for Burlington Coat Factory, was charged with aggravated child abuse and is being held, according to jail records, at Orient Road Jail. Bail had not been set.

The report does not list the relationship between Garland and the child, nor does it say whether the child is a boy or a girl.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office could not immediately comment.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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