Man arrested in belt-buckle beating of child
Mike Sakal, Tribune

June 12, 2009 - 5:31PM

Mario Salazar
SUBMITTED PHOTO

An 18-month-old Mesa boy was hospitalized on Wednesday after his father hit him over the head at least twice with a belt buckle while trying to hit his wife, according to a police report.

Mario Salazar, 21, who also is accused of hitting his wife with the belt during an argument, later slapped a police officer in the face when officers attempted to arrest him at his residence in the 1700 block of East Elton on Wednesday, the report states.

Salazar was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest and assault, according to the report.

The boy, who was badly bleeding, was taken to a hospital after the argument between Salazar and his wife. The boy had staples placed on his wound and medical staff called the police to report the incident, according to the report.

Salazar also told police, "I didn't mean to hit him. His mother was using him as a shield."

Salazar, who also told police he did not intentionally strike the officer, told the police he was an illegal immigrant and that he had been deported once before and returned to the United States after paying a coyote to smuggle him across the border/

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