Cutler Bay man allegedly beat 10-year-old stepson with broom over i-Ready lockout

CUTLER BAY, Florida. – A Cutler Bay man is facing child abuse charges after he hit his 10-year-old stepson with a broom Wednesday when the boy was unable to access an online school program, according to Miami-Dade police.

According to police, the incident occurred Wednesday evening when the victim's stepfather, David Le, became enraged because his stepson accidentally locked himself out of i-Ready, an internet-based educational program widely used in South Florida schools.

Authorities said Le, 55, grabbed the victim by her hair and pulled her back and forth. He then took a broom handle and struck the child on the buttocks about 10 times, causing severe bruising, according to investigators.

After arriving at the victim's home near the 8600 block of Southwest 212th Street, police said the boy showed “visible signs of trauma,” consistent with his statement, which was not included in Le's arrest report.

After his arrest, Le refused to answer any questions without the presence of a lawyer, according to authorities.

Prison records show that Le, a Vietnamese national, was charged with child abuse without serious bodily harm and that a judge had ordered him to stay away from the victim.

He has been held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center since Thursday, where his bail has not yet been decided.