CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

INEZ — Police arrested an employee and a resident of the Serenity House in Inez on child abuse charges after the resident allegedly bit her 20-month-old child at the director’s instructions.

Crystal Hazlett, 42, and Brittany Ashcraft, 31, both of Inez, were arrested Aug. 30 at the Mountain Comprehensive Care-operated facility on Blacklog Road.

Hazlett, who works at the facility, faces a charge of complicity to fourth-degree assault (child abuse). Ashcraft is facing fourth-degree assault (child abuse).

Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office investigated and made the arrests. According to the police report, Ashcraft physically injured her child by biting her, leaving visible marks, when her daughter would bite.

Ashcraft allgedly told police that Hazlett instructed her to bite the child to show the child how bad biting hurts. Police said Hazlett admitted to giving the instruction.

DSS removed the child for alternate placement.