A Calera woman is accused of chasing and beating a 10-year-old boy with a belt.

Mariyam Eaton, 38, was charged with child abuse following an investigation by Calera Police.

Officer Blake Wigington began investigating earlier this month after a boy ran to a convenience store and said he had been beaten with a belt.

An affidavit states that the boy was not wearing a shirt or shoes and was sitting on a bench crying when Wigington arrived.

The boy said Eaton chased him around the house and hit him with a belt, according to the affidavit, and he showed the officer abrasions that were on his back, shoulders and stomach.

Police questioned Eaton who said the boy called her vulgar names and she chased him with a belt but never struck him, the affidavit states.

She was also questioned by a Child Protective Services caseworker and after being asked who hit the boy, she first said she did not know and upon being asked again if she hit him, she said, “well maybe,” according to police. Eaton then said she did not remember hitting him.

Eaton bonded out of jail Tuesday.

In other crime news, Durant Police Patrolman Wesley Crank investigated a burglary Monday in the 1600 block of North 10th Avenue. George Coon said someone entered his home and stole three video game systems and a movie. No evidence was found at the scene and there are no suspects.