Woman Charged With Striking Child With Belt, Breaking Mom's Nose

TARPON SPRINGS — A Tarpon Springs woman was arrested Thursday after being accused of hitting a 13-year-old boy across the back with a belt and then breaking his mother's nose when she confronted her son's attacker.

Tarpon Springs police said Schnique Latrelle McCluster, 43, was intoxicated when she struck a 13-year-old boy she didn't know with a belt in the common area of an apartment complex on Bridgewater Drive.

She told police she struck him because he was cursing at her. The belt left an 18-inch red mark across his back.

When the child’s mother confronted McCluster, McCluster and her 23-year-old son, Cameron Lamount Bush, punched, kicked and stomped on the mother's face, breaking her nose, police said.

McCluster has been charged with child abuse and felony battery. Her son has been charged with battery.