JSO officer accused of beating child with hanger

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office employee was arrested after she was accused of beating a male child with a plastic hanger, JSO said Tuesday.

Erica Nicole McRae, a 12-year veteran assigned to patrol, was charged with one count of child abuse. She is in the Duval County Jail.

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According to JSO, the arrest resulted from an incident on Oct. 12, in which the victim reported to a school administrator that he was disciplined for misbehaving at school.

"The child was supposedly disciplined for misbehaving at school and allegedly the defendant struck the child several times with a clothes hanger," said JSO Undersheriff Pat Ivey.

The child alleged that McRae struck the boy with a plastic clothes hanger, leaving marks on the boy's arms and legs. JSO said McRae continued to strike the child even after breaking the initial clothes hanger used.

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The Department of Children and Families said the department's investigation will not be affected by the suspect being an officer.

DCF said the child is safe with a relative.

Duval County Schools told Action News Jax that they will not talk about the incident, as it is a DCF and JSO investigation.

JSO records show McRae has four complaints on file: two from officer-involved crashes and two from citizens, including alleged harassment.

WJAX