Bowling Green man charged with child abuse

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Bowling Green man is behind bars after police say he was involved in a child abuse case.

According to a citation by the Bowling Green Police Department, officers responded Friday for a welfare check of a child.

Upon arrival, an officer spoke to a caller about a 9-year-old with several bruises.

The citation states the caller told police Cody Smotherman caused the bruises on the child. The caller further told police the bruises on the child were new, and the child had been leaving his place of residence, according to the citation.

After the child was returned to his residence, police say they were further told Smotherman struck the child with a belt, specifically using the buckle of the belt, the citation states.

According to BGPD, Smotherman was read his Miranda rights, which the citation states he waived. The citation states Smotherman said to police, “I brought him inside and wore” him out. “The social worker said that he needs a good ‘whopping,'” Smotherman said.

Smotherman, 26, of Bowling Green was arrested and faces charges of first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under and endangering the welfare of a minor.

He remains in the Warren County Detention Center with no bond.