Police are searching for a Texas man accused of abusing a young child, all because they allegedly wanted something to eat, KPRC-TV reports.
This week, Crime Stoppers of Houston announced that police are looking for 46-year-old Cesar Roman Flores in connection with the abuse allegations. Flores, who also uses the alias “Jose Castro,” faces a charge of injury to a child.
Investigators allege that Flores likely assaulted a 4-year-old child on February 12, 2022, at the man’s home in north Houston. Several days later, on February 15, the child complained of pain at school and saw a nurse, who allegedly observed a large bruise on the child’s back and neck.
Officials at the school were told that Flores had struck the 4-year-old on their back and head using a shoe, according to KPRC-TV, citing court documents. A child protective services caseworker interviewed the victim on February 17 and was further told that Flores allegedly hit the child in the back and on an ear.
Bruises were still visible on the child’s back and appeared like a show print, with a bigger bruise consistent with a shoe sole and a smaller bruise consistent with a shoe heel.
Child protective services contacted Flores on March 4. He described the allegations as “bullsh**” and said the child likely fell down while at a park, according to KPRC-TV. The child had complained of back pain since February 14 but Flores said he didn’t see anything wrong with the child.
Police were notified on March 30 that Flores allegedly abused the child. It is not clear what happened next, but child protective services interviewed the boy again on September 13, 2022, and said they did not want to see Flores any longer.
The child’s mother told police the child was with Flores when the injury occurred and that she was not aware of the bruising until February 15. The mother took a photo of the bruising and texted it to Flores to ask what happened.
Flores allegedly said the boy had fallen while in a park, according to KPRC-TV.
The mother said she was told Flores had hit the child on their head and back and then pushed them because they had tried to eat some yogurt that belonged to Flores’ son.
On October 27, 2022, child protective services again interviewed Flores and he denied doing anything to injure the child. Flores could not explain why the child did not attend school on February 14, 2022.
Although charges have been filed, police have not been able to locate Flores to arrest him.
Flores is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5-foot-10, and weighing 195 pounds, according to Woodlands Online.
To report information about the case, including Flores’ whereabouts, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. A $5,000 reward may be available for information that leads to Flores’ arrest.
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[Feature Photo: Cesar Roman Flores/Crime Stoppers of Houston]
