Father repeatedly hits sleeping teen daughter as punishment for disobeying cellphone rule: Cops

Authorities in Minnesota say a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his teen daughter.

According to KIMT, the incident occurred earlier this week at the Rochester home of Steve Johnson and the 14-year-old girl.

At around 8 p.m. on Monday, police say the suspect hit his sleeping daughter 14 times with a belt. After that alleged beating, Johnson is accused of telling her that he was going to find a wire rod and continue the assault.

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Authorities caught Johnson with him in Dodge Center the following day and took him into custody. He is expected to face criminal charges including domestic assault and malicious punishment of a child.

She reportedly sustained injuries to her posterior and thigh.

According to the Rochester Post Bulletin, a police liaison at Mayo High School received a complaint on Tuesday morning about an allegedly violent episode of corporal punishment that occurred the previous evening.

Rochester Police Lt. Mike Sadauskis said officers noticed an injury on the girl’s hand sustained when she attempted to stop the beating, which investigators believe was meted out when she took her phone to school against his orders.

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[Featured image: Steve Johnson, handout]