MIRAMAR, Fla. – A woman burned her 11-year-old son with an iron about a week after hitting him with a belt, according to Miramar police.
According to an arrest affidavit, Glendese Williams' son told a nurse at Pines Middle School that he was ironing his clothes Monday morning when his mother began arguing with him about an incident at school. The nurse noticed the burn on his shoulder when he asked for a band-aid, police said.
The boy said Williams, 30, took the iron and pressed it against his right arm, police said. He was diagnosed with first and second-degree burns at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
But Williams said Tuesday that it was an accident.
"Unfortunately, the iron was in the way and he tried to pass me and the iron burned his arm," she said.
According to the arrest affidavit, when asked by detectives, Williams didn't say how her son was burned or why she didn't take him to the hospital. She was then arrested and charged with child abuse causing great bodily harm.
At a shelter hearing, a judge ruled the boy's grandfather would take care of him and his 3-year-old brother.
"He should be doing fine and he should be coming home soon and that's all I have to say and I love my children very much," said Williams. "I'm the best mom there is. I'm the best mom ever."
According to the arrest affidavit, the boy also said that, on Sept. 20, his mother hit him on the leg with a belt over another incident at school. Police said it left marks on his leg.