NAPLES, Fla. (Le Floridien) — A Haitian father in Southwest Florida is facing criminal charges after deputies say he intentionally drove his vehicle into his own child following an argument linked to the child’s suspension from school.
According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, 49-year-old Julio Maurice was arrested Thursday and charged with child abuse without great bodily harm after investigators determined he deliberately struck the child while the victim was riding an e-bike with friends in Naples.
Witnesses described a frightening scene.
One witness told deputies that Maurice first swerved his vehicle toward the child and missed before revving the engine and crashing directly into the victim, sending the child flying into the air.
Investigators believe Maurice was angry because the child had recently been suspended from school and was outside riding with friends instead of remaining at home.
The victim, who was later transported to Naples Comprehensive Health Pediatric Emergency Room, told deputies that Maurice drove onto the sidewalk and hit him while he was riding the e-bike.
After the collision, Maurice allegedly got out of the car and began scolding the child.
“You don’t go to school and you’re coming out here, you don’t come home, you don’t do this,” Maurice allegedly told the victim, according to the arrest report.
Deputies responding to the scene observed scratches on Maurice’s vehicle and damage to the rear tire of the child’s e-bike, evidence investigators say supports witness statements.
Authorities also revealed that the child did not receive immediate medical attention because law enforcement was not contacted until the following day.
According to investigators, Maurice then forced the child to place the damaged e-bike into the back of his vehicle before leaving the area.
The shocking case has generated strong reactions within parts of the Haitian community in Florida, particularly among parents discussing discipline, anger, and family pressure.
Maurice remains in custody as the investigation continues.
