A north Alabama police officer was reportedly suspended from his department amid a child abuse investigation.

In an order of protection from abuse filed in Etowah County against Mason Clemons of the Boaz Police Department, Clemons is accused of repeatedly hitting a child with a flip-flop, leaving a “big bruise,” WHNT reported.

Boaz Police Chief Michael Abercrombie told the station Clemons remains an officer with the department but is suspended pending further investigation.