Terre Du Lac police officer charged with child abuse

A Terre Du Lac police officer has been hit with felony charges.

37-year-old Ignatius Damier was charged Wednesday with 2 counts of felony abuse or neglect of a child.

According to the Highway Patrol, Damier was off duty babysitting his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter on September.

The child’s godmother picked her up from Damier’s house and discovered bruising on the toddler’s face and back.

When questioned by authorities, Damier said he slapped the child for talking back to him and spanked her for urinating on the floor.

Along with being booked in St. Francois County Jail, Damier was terminated from his role as a corporal in the Terre Du Lac police department.

Damier is being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond and faces up to 7 years in prison.