Child abuse charges filed

A Flomaton man was arrested Tuesday on three felony counts of willful abuse of a child following an investigation that began in Florida.

Anthony Williams, 56, was arrested by Flomaton police and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton. Williams was scheduled to appear before Escambia County District Judge Eric Coale for a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Flomaton Police Chief Johnny Wilson said his department received a child abuse complaint from the Department of Human Resources in Alabama involving four children who lived in the Flomaton Police Department jurisdiction.

Chief Wilson said the Child Protective Team in Florida interviewed three of the children, all under the age of 12. Allegations were made that the children's stepfather, identified as Williams, was abusing them. Wilson said the investigation revealed the alleged abuse had occurred in Flomaton.

Police then arrested Williams and transported him to jail.