By Associated Press - Saturday, September 21, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - A Florida police officer in the middle of an ongoing child custody fight is facing a charge of making a false report to child welfare authorities.

Authorities say Lakeland Police Officer William Long turned himself in Friday evening.

The Lakeland Police Department said in a statement that the agency opened an investigation after receiving a complaint about Long related to a report he had made to the Florida Department of Children and Families abuse hotline.



Long said he had concerns about his child in the care of a babysitter hired by the child’s mother after seeing unexplained scratches and a puncture wound.

A DCF investigator found no signs of abuse.

No online court records had been posted Saturday, so it was unknown if Long had an attorney.

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