Couple charged with child abuse

Published 4:50 am Wednesday, June 15, 2016

A Brewton couple is facing child abuse charges.

Brewton Police Sgt. Patrick Caylor said the couple – Tromaine Banks and Lareka Banks – was arrested after officers were dispatched to a complaint at River Run Apartments.

“When investigators and the Department of Human Resources responded, we found a juvenile victim who reported that he had been abused by his father and stepmother,” Caylor said. “While the investigation remains ongoing, investigators did find that the child had suffered injuries consistent with the allegations.

Mr. Banks was arrested and charged with the willful torture and abuse of a child last Saturday while Mrs. Banks was taken into custody Thursday. She also faces the additional charge of domestic violence suffocation/strangulation and theft by fraudulent leasing. Each are being held in the Escambia County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond.

Caylor said other children were present in the home; however, DHR officials later released them into the custody of other family members.