Pair Arrested After Bixby Boy Reports Dad Hit Him With Belt

Police arrested two people Monday afternoon, after their 7-year-old son told staff at his school that he was afraid to go home.

Bixby Police say the boy told a counselor on Friday, October 4, that his mom, two days before, had called his dad over to spank him with a belt after he got in trouble at school.

The school nurse and counselor saw marks on the boy's right arm, right hip, and both legs, according to the arrest report. Investigators say a medical evaluation of the boy showed the injuries were indicative of excessive force.

The boy's mother, 31-year-old Sheena Steele told police she read an email about her son behaving badly in school, then called and notified his father, 32-year-old Teryck Griffin. She said she then left for work and Griffin came over to her apartment, according to the arrest report.

Steele told investigators the boy showed her the injuries, but she did not report the abuse.

When police questioned Griffin, the report says, he told them he used the belt because the boy was disobeying him. He reportedly told police he wasn't aware he had left marks.

The boy told investigators he could remember being hit with the belt about 10 times and that he was afraid of his father, the arrest report says.

Police say Griffin was supposed to be picking his son up from school on Friday.

Griffin was booked into Tulsa County jail on a complaint of child abuse and Steele, on permitting child abuse. Bond was set at $50,000 for each of them.