An administrative supervisor with the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Police Department was arrested Oct. 7 on a charge of felony child abuse, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Sonny Bronson Simmons, 43, was arrested at 11:44 a.m. at his Palm Harbor home on allegations that he struck a child in the head with his hand. The child's identity, age and relationship to Simmons were not released by the Sheriff's Office. The incident took place after Simmons and the child got into a verbal dispute, according to the arrest report. Simmons then struck the victim in the head with his hand, the report said.

The 43-year-old did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the report. No weapons were seized during the arrest. The child did not suffer serious injuries.

Simmons was arrested on one count of felony child abuse and released from the Pinellas County jail on Oct. 7 after posting $5,000 bail.

Simmons, according to his Linkedin page, he is a supervisory security specialist. A VA spokesman said Simmons is a full-time employee, but declined to say whether the department had taken any action against him because of his arrest.