Corbin man facing two counts of child abuse

Corbin Police say a 53-year-old man was drunk when he allegedly kicked a four-year-old girl and picked up an eight-year-old by the hair and slung her around early Tuesday morning.

Corbin Police Officer Steve Meadors arrested Charles Hatfield of Corbin about 3 a.m. at his residence on Brock Drive near Hightop Road where he had reportedly fled.

Meadors stated in the arrest citation that officers were paged to the scene in response to a complaint of a domestic dispute at Lot 4 of Gulf Trailer Park off of Falls Highway.

“It was the kids’ mother who called police,” said Corbin Police Major Rob Jones, the department’s public affairs officer.

Meadors said the kick to the four-year-old knocked her into the stove resulting in a black eye.

Whitley EMS was called to the scene to take the child to Baptist Health Corbin.

Meadors said when officers arrived at the Brock Drive residence no one answered the door despite repeated knocking by officers.

Hatfield allegedly attempted to flee out the back but was detained by Corbin Police Lt. Glenn Taylor.

Hatfield was charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault – child abuse, second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot and alcohol intoxication in a public place.

Hatfield is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $5,00 cash bond.

Hatfield pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing Tuesday before Whitley District Court Judge Fred White.

Hatfield is scheduled to return to court at 1 p.m. on November 29 for a pretrial hearing.