ZACHARY - Police arrested a Zachary woman Thursday after they say she punched her 12-year-old son in the head multiple times, causing bruising and swelling.

Zachary Police charged 27-year-old Lacey Young with felony cruelty to juveniles Thursday afternoon.

Detectives said a school resource officer reported that the 12-year-old victim returned to school Wednesday with bruises on his head and face. The victim told school administrators that he got the injuries during a football game.

According to police, the boy told a counselor Young forced him to the floor, straddled him and punched his head and face Sunday.

The boy told the counselor Young gave him ice packs and placed him in a cold shower to stop the swelling.

Young told investigators that she asked the boy to watch his 2-year-old brother while she cooked dinner. She said she later discovered the boy left the home without telling her. When she found the boy, she said she verbally disciplined him, causing him to cry.

Young told investigators that she put her hands on his mouth out of frustration, and the boy tried to walk away. She told police the boy fought her and she forced him to the ground, punching him.

Young said after the incident she realized what she did was wrong, apologized and promised the victim that it would never happen again.

Zachary Police said they also interviewed the victim’s father who said his wife told him about what happened after he came home from work.

The father told detectives that he saw the boy’s injuries, but did not report the incident because he was afraid he was going to lose his job as a correctional officer.

Police said the father and the eldest son told the victim to lie about the injuries and say he got the bruises from playing football.

Detectives said they observed swelling and bruising to the left side of the victim’s head, left eye front hairline, right elbow and ear.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was examined by medical staff who determined that his injuries were not life threatening.

Young was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.