Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Chuck Hasty said the child was hit by use of hands and an instrument, the type he declined to divulge. The child sustained bruises.

Investigator Chris Babb charged Jomar Ohhja Squire, 26, with misdemeanor child abuse and assault on a child under 12, which is also a misdemeanor.

Hasty said Squire is a friend of the child's mother. Babb said the mother was not present when Squire assaulted the child in what he said was an attempt to discipline.

Hasty said in a statement the police department began investigating on April 1 after receiving a report from the Halifax County Department of Social Services.

Babb worked with child protective services to develop a suspect in the case.

Squire went to police department around 11 a.m. Tuesday to surrender and face the charges.

The child is in the custody of her father and is OK.

Squire received a $5,000 bond and was assigned a May 20 court date.

Babb said the case remains under investigation.

In another matter, Hasty reported that on Tuesday around midnight, Officer Jamie Hardy responded to Walmart to investigate a larceny.

After speaking with loss prevention, Hardy cited Teresa Knight, 56, of Garysburg, to court on May 11 for shoplifting.