He is also allegedly pushed his child, causing her to trip over an open dishwasher and bang her head on a chair, officials said.
Police arrested a Michigan man they say beat his daughter with frozen bacon while she spent the weekend with him.
Jonathan Powell, 45, allegedly hit his 11-year-old daughter over the head numerous times with the frozen meat on Saturday, January 9, the Hampton Township Police Department said.
He also allegedly pushed his child, causing her to trip over an open dishwasher and bang her head on a chair, officials said.
Powell brought the little girl back to her mother, from whom he is separated, the next day and she called police to report the alleged abuse.
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Officers spoke with the girl, who reportedly had a bruise on her left cheek below her eye, authorities said.
Her father denied any wrongdoing, reportedly telling police that the child hurt herself.
Cops said he told them he was in the kitchen boiling water when his daughter came in the room, fell backward over the open dishwater door. That's how she got the bruise, he allegedly told cops.
Authorities issued a warrant for Powell's arrest Tuesday, January 19. He appeared the next day in Bay County District Court for arraignment on one count of third-degree child abuse, according to court documents.
The charge is a felony punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, if convicted.
After his arraignment, Powell was freed on a personal recognizance bond. He is to have no contact with his daughter.
Powell is set to next appear in court for a preliminary examination on Tuesday, February 2.
Police said they had received prior complaints about Powell regarding other incidents involving his daughter, but no charges had ever been filed.
Attempts to reach Powell or his attorney were unsuccessful.
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