Erwin Archila, Port St. Lucie man, arrested after being accused of whipping boy, 5

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 33-year-old man accused of whipping a 5-year-old boy with a belt was arrested on a felony child abuse charge, according to records released Tuesday.

Erwin Archila, of the 1600 block of Southeast Mariana Road in Port St. Lucie, was arrested Monday after Port St. Lucie police met with a state Department of Children and Families investigator.

The boy had several large bruises on his legs that he initially said came from Archila whipping him with a belt. He later said he got the bruises from falling down in the grass.

Archila told police he whipped the boy about three or four times Friday, saying he was very embarrassed. He gave police the belt he used in the incident.