(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said School Resource Officers (SRO) arrested a 35-year-old man for alleged child abuse after an incident involving his child.
The arrest marks the third in five days for child abuse after two people were arrested for an alleged child abuse incident on March 6. School staff at a Pueblo County School District 70 (D70) elementary school reported the abuse to the Sheriff’s Office, according to deputies.
According to PCSO, on Monday, March 10, SROs responded to a call at another D70 elementary school about a report of possible child abuse after a school employee was notified of injuries to a 7-year-old child. As a mandatory reporter, the employee notified law enforcement.
PCSO said officers investigated and saw the child had visible injuries, which were allegedly done by the father, Ulysses Kropf-Castillo, who was booked into the Pueblo County Jail.
Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
The child was taken to the hospital for treatment and released to a parent.
“Pueblo County School District 70 takes all reports of child abuse seriously. The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities,” said District 70 Superintendent Ronda Rein. “As mandated reporters, all employees are required to report suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with Colorado law. The district remains committed to protecting students and working with the proper authorities to ensure their safety.”
“These are very disturbing and unfortunate incidents involving the abuse of children in our community,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. “I appreciate and commend the school resource officers and the school staff for their work on these very difficult cases. These types of incidents are never easy.”
“Furthermore, I want to remind people if they are stressed or struggling to call for help and reach out to resources in the community to avoid getting into an abusive situation,” added Lucero.
PCSO said if you are concerned about a child’s wellbeing, see evidence of abuse, or witness a child being harmed, to report it to law enforcement. In an emergency, contact 911. For non-emergency numbers, contact PCSO at (719) 583-6250; Pueblo Police Department at (719) 553-2502; Pueblo 24 Hour Reporting Line at (719) 583-6901; or the Colorado Abuse Reporting Line at 1-844-264-5437.
