Rogers Man Accused Of Abuse

BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of abusing a 5-year-old girl.

Lyle Ted Cook, 38, was arrested in connection with felony charges of aggravated assault, battery in the second degree and fi rst-degree false imprisonment.

The girl’s parents reported the suspected abuse to Bentonville police.

Cook lives with the family and watches the girl during the day while her parents work, according to an aff davit of probable cause.

The girl’s mother reported she awoke at 3:15 a.m. Thursday to the sound of her daughter choking and shewent to check on her, but her daughter was not in her room, according to court documents. The mother heard the sound coming from Cook’s room, and her daughter jumped oft the bed and told her that Cook had put his finger down her throat and tried to choke her, according to the aff davit.

The child also claimed to her parents that Cook had slapped her, according to court documents. According to the probable cause aff davit, the girl said she had bit Cook on his thumb, and the mother noticed that Cook was bleeding from a cut on his right thumb.

The girl was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County and she reported that Cook had come to her room duringthe night and carried her into his room and he later started fighting her, according to court documents.

The girl described being choked and repeatedly slapped by Cook, according to the aff davit.

According to court documents, the girl had bruises on her neck and her upper lip was swollen. A nurse also located bruising on the inside of the girl’s throat, according to the aff davit.

Cook was interviewed by police and he denied going into the girl’s room and getting her. Cook was unable to give any explanations for the girl’s injuries, according to court documents.

Cook was being held Sunday in the Benton County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.