Shands Hospital Cook Arrested for Child Abuse and Aggravated Battery

Gainesville Police Department officers charged Hugo Daniel Marrero Rodriguez, 46, with child abuse and aggravated battery last week. 

According to the arrest report, Rodriguez became angry with a 4-year-old victim after the child broke a printer.  Rodriguez began hitting the child’s hand against the printer. He then grabbed a toy and threw it at the child’s head, causing a laceration. Rodriguez reportedly bit the child on their arm. 

Later in the night, Rodriguez and an adult victim got into an argument where he reportedly grabbed and squeezed her arm and shoved her into a wall. 

Police observed visible injuries on both victims

Rodriguez’s mother told police that “nothing physical occurred in the residence.” 

Rodriguez’s bond is set at $100,000, but he made a motion to reduce it Friday. 

The motion states, “Prior to his arrest, Mr. Rodriguez was working at Shands Hospital as a cook. He often would work double shifts and 70-80 hours per week to make ends meet. Mr. Rodriguez has no savings but has $7,000 in debts. He does not own any real property…. The highest amount of money Mr. Rodriguez believes he can put toward a bond is $100.” 

Rodriguez will appear at his bond hearing on Thursday.