A Miami-Dade father appeared in court Monday after being accused of physically abusing his daughter when she refused to attend church on Sunday.
Deputies said the incident occurred inside the family’s home near Miami Gardens. According to an arrest report, 63-year-old Renel Sanon entered his daughter’s bedroom, pulled the covers from her bed, punched her in the chest, and struck her with an electrical cord, according to the WPLG Local 10.
Emergency crews with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene to provide medical care for the girl. When deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found the victim in the backyard. She declined to give a statement, but deputies documented her injuries with photographs.
The newly formed Mental Health Outreach and Victim Empowerment Squad, along with a representative from the Florida Department of Children and Families, also responded to the home, authorities said. Deputies arrested Sanon at approximately 10:55 a.m. Sunday.
He was later booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just after 12:40 p.m., records show. Sanon faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. A bond court judge ordered him to stay away from his daughter and set his bond at $2,500. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Zachary James is assigned to preside over the case as legal proceedings move forward.
Investigators have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the alleged assault, though the arrest report makes clear the conflict began when the girl refused to attend church. Authorities did not specify her age.
Child welfare advocates stress that cases like this highlight the importance of intervention programs. The involvement of the Mental Health Outreach and Victim Empowerment Squad, launched to address trauma and provide resources, was noted in the arrest report as part of the response.
Sanon, who appeared briefly in bond court Monday, did not enter a plea during the initial hearing. He is expected to return to court later this month as prosecutors review the case and determine whether further charges are warranted.
Detectives are asking anyone with information related to this incident or similar cases to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.
The case has drawn attention locally, with community leaders expressing concern about child safety and the need for continued support services. For now, Sanon remains under a court order to stay away from his daughter while the case proceeds.