Authorities Charge St. Pete Man With Aggravated Child Abuse

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Police from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested a 45-year-old man on Monday, May 11, in the abuse of a 7-year-old girl, and he has been charged with aggravated child abuse. The child was taken to St. Petersburg General Hospital for a head injury on Saturday, May 9, and after she was released, she told a family member the incident involved St. Pete resident Steven Tromblee, stated a news release.

The family member notified police, and after detectives visited the home of the victim, police said they put pieces together that Tromblee became upset with the girl for telling a lie. He allegedly pulled the victim's hair and pushed her in the back with his foot. The force of the push caused the child to fly forward and strike her head against an object in the room, investigators said.

Officials said they interviewed Tromblee at his residence on Monday, May 11, and he admitted to grabbing the victim's hair and kicking her in the back. He was arrested and taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

The victim has been released from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The victim's name will not be released because she is a minor.

Tromblee's booking photo is currently not available. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office website, he does have a prior arrest record with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.