From an incident report written by a deputy in the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, in Okeechobee, Florida. The office occasionally responds to requests from parents seeking oversight from law enforcement to ensure that the corporal punishment of their children is legal.

On December 29, 2014, at approximately 1916 hours, while assigned to road patrol, I, deputy sheriff Joseph Hall, was dispatched to SW 18th Street. Upon arrival I made contact with Dale Garcia. Dale advised me that when he returned home from Walmart he found that his two twelve-year-old daughters had gotten into an argument while he was gone. At one point H had locked herself inside her bedroom, and J used a knife to pick the lock. Dale wanted to use his paddle to discipline J, and wanted me to stand by while he spanked her. H advised me that when her father was gone, J had taken her tablet without asking. H stated that she hit J in the face with a ball, and when J chased her, she locked herself inside her room. J entered her room and sat on her chest, bouncing up and down. J confirmed H’s statements, and I stood by as Dale spanked J four times on her buttocks. Since no crime had been committed, this case is closed and no further action is required. End of report.