A 51-year-old man is facing an aggravated child abuse charge after Miami-Dade deputies said he attacked a girl who came to his mobile home late Thursday night to ask for food.
The attack happened just before midnight at the University Lakes mobile home park, near Southwest Eighth Street and 127th Avenue in the Tamiami area of west Miami-Dade. According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the girl went to a trailer in the 1300 block of Southwest 129th Avenue to ask for cereal. A man later identified as Michael Villarin came out and accused her of stealing his belongings, deputies said.
Deputies said Villarin repeatedly struck her head against the side of the home. He then went inside, returned with a knife and hit her over the left side of the head with the handle, causing a two-inch laceration. Medics treated the girl at the scene. Deputies said she identified Villarin as the man who attacked her.
Deputies found Villarin at the rear of the trailer. He refused to cooperate and did not give a statement, the report said. It is unclear whether he lives at the home or was staying there, though his address in the report is listed in Homestead.
As of Friday afternoon, Villarin was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond listed as “to be set.” The girl’s age was not listed in the report.
