Cops: Man Used Cigarette Lighter to Burn Child’s Face

Kareem Hayes (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

Local and county detectives have charged a man with abusing a 6-year-old child by burning the youngster’s face with a cigarette lighter. 

Kareem Hayes, 36, of New Brunswick, was charged Nov. 29 by police in Toms River, where the incident occurred inside a home, according to police spokesman Ralph Stocco.

An investigation conducted by Toms River Police Detective Thomas Grosse and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Detective Lindsey Most determined that Hayes “purposefully used a lighter to burn the face of a six year old child,” a statement said. The child, who was under the care of Hayes, suffered second and third degree burns to the face, neck, and ear.

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Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento authorized charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Stocco said. Hayes is being held in the Ocean County Jail on $250,000 bail.