Dad beat, kicked 11-year-old daughter for playing with iPad after bedtime, threatened to 'throw her off the balcony': Police

A 53-year-old father in Florida is accused of physically abusing his 11-year-old daughter, allegedly kicking her and repeatedly slamming her head into the floor inside their family home.

Husain Maki Habib was taken into custody and charged with one count of felony child abuse without great bodily harm, court records show.

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Habib and the girl’s mother are divorced and live separately, but share custody of their two daughters, ages 11 and 14.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the case began when the 11-year-old called her mom from school just after 9 a.m. Sept. 17 and explained there had been an incident involving her father at their residence the previous night. The mother soon contacted the City of Doral Police Department and reported what she learned.

The mother told police that Habib had instructed their daughter to turn off her iPad and get ready for bed. When she did not comply fast enough, Habib allegedly took the tablet and smashed the screen with a hammer.

“The defendant stated that if she did not listen, he would smash her head and throw her off the balcony,” the affidavit says.

The victim then went to the bedroom she shares with her older sister.

“The defendant entered the bedroom and allegedly pushed the victim to the floor,” police wrote. “The victim reported the defendant kicked her multiple times while she was on the floor and pushed her head into the ground.”

The victim told police her father primarily kicked her in the lower back and legs and claimed he pushed her head “into the floor” about eight times.

The girl was transported to nearby HCA Emergency for treatment, where doctors said she suffered minor contusions in the areas where the victim said she was struck.

Police also interviewed the girl’s older sister, who said Habib “became upset” because the younger girl “continued to play on her iPad” after being told to stop and get ready for bed. A verbal argument followed, after which Habib broke the tablet with a hammer, according to the affidavit.

According to the older sister, Habib walked the victim to the bedroom and “pushed her toward the bed.”

“The victim fell to the ground,” police wrote. “The defendant then struck the victim with an open hand on her arm and kicked her approximately three times near the lower back or shin area.”

Following his arrest, Habib declined to provide a statement without an attorney present and was then transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for booking. He was released from detention after posting bond of $2,500, records show.

It was not immediately clear when Habib was scheduled to appear in court.

The post Dad beat, kicked 11-year-old daughter for playing with iPad after bedtime, threatened to ‘throw her off the balcony’: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.