Horry County fifth-grader taken to hospital after school officials report abuse, two arrested

Two Loris people were arrested by Horry County police after an 11-year old boy went to school with visible signs of abuse.

Kenneth Dare, 30, is charged with assault and battery in the third degree and unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person, and Brenda Marie Gray, 34, is charged with unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person. Both are being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center and awaiting a bond hearing.

According to a police report, Dare learned the child misbehaved on the school bus Wednesday and punched him on both sides of his face. Officers said the boy had severe bruising to the left side of his face and head and bruising behind his left ear. He also had swelling under his right eye and on the right side of his face.

School officials at Loris Elementary noticed the bruises on Thursday morning and contacted police, said Teal Britton, Horry County Schools spokeswoman. Loris police and Horry County EMS responded and the boy was taken to a local hospital.

Officers met with Gray, the child’s mother, at the hospital. She told officers that she was at work during the incident Wednesday, but said she received a call from Dare who said “I f---ed up.” Dare told Gray he slapped the boy, the report shows.

The boy was asleep when Gray returned home and she told officers she could see marks on his face. Gray told officers that she said that his injuries didn’t look severe so she sent him to school Thursday.

Gray is charged because she knew the child had been assaulted and did not report the injuries to authorities, a warrant shows.

Gray was released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center 5:10 p.m. Friday according to jail records. Dare was still in custody pending $3,000 bond.

Police said the child was placed in custody with other family members.