DALTON, Ga. — A 34-year-old Dalton man has been charged with aggravated child molestation and sexual battery against a child under 16 following a July domestic dispute handled by the Dalton Police Department.

Eduardo Leon-Cruz, of 408 N. Fredrick St., was charged on July 26 with misdemeanor battery. DPD spokesman Bruce Frazier said the July incident had been under investigation and resulted in the new charges. Leon-Cruz is being held in the Whitfield County jail without bond.

According to an incident report, officers originally responded to a 911 hangup call. Officers discovered “some domestic dispute” had occurred but neither of the people involved spoke English. Noting “all parties … were crying” and “emotions were high,” an officer was eventually told a person had “been touched inappropriately” and “these happenings had been going on for approximately five years with the latest incident being two weeks ago.”

The officer was told Leon-Cruz had been “confronted … with the information,” which he denied. The report, much of which is redacted, indicates that Leon-Cruz pushed someone and also hit someone “across the face.” The officer noted because of the language barrier the officer was unable to determine how Leon-Cruz hit the person, “whether by closed fist, open hand, with an object, etc.”

A Spanish-speaking officer arrived to help and a referral was made to the Division of Family and Children Services.