A 42-year-old man in Florida has been arrested on charges of abusing his 6-year-old stepson, allegedly beating and kicking him while also placing a dog collar around his neck and repeatedly yanking it until the victim was dragged off his feet.
Zachary Perez was arrested on Saturday and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, according to records reviewed by Law&Crime.
According to court documents obtained by Miami ABC affiliate WPLG, on the evening of Thursday, May 8, 2025, Perez and the child were both in their family home in southwest Miami-Dade County when Perez punched the child in the face several times with a closed fist. The punches reportedly left the child with multiple bruises.
Later that evening, Perez allegedly grabbed a dog collar and fastened it around the boy’s neck. Authorities said Perez repeatedly positioned himself behind the victim and yanked the leash, pulling the boy to the ground.
Investigators also stated that Perez kicked the victim in the stomach several times and struck the boy with a piece of a tree branch, known as a “switch,” according to Miami NBC affiliate WTVJ.
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Perez is accused of abusing the boy in this manner for two days before Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the home on Saturday and arrested him.
Perez appeared in court on Sunday, and a magistrate judge ordered him held without bond. He formally pleaded not guilty to the child abuse charge, and the court appointed a public defender to represent him in the case.
According to court records, Perez was scheduled to appear again on Monday morning. A hearing on his pretrial detention is currently scheduled for Thursday.
Perez is being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.
Should Perez be released on bond, a judge has already issued an order prohibiting him from having any contact with the child and ordering him to stay at least 500 feet away from the boy at all times, according to Miami CBS affiliate WFOR.
