ST. PETERS • A 23-year-old Sedalia woman is in custody after police say she spanked a 4-year-old boy with a belt and repeatedly punched him after he refused to get in the back seat of their car.

The incident happened about 3:15 p.m. Saturday on the parking lot of the Quik Trip at 391 Main Street.

Tyesha Lynette Peck was charged with felony child abuse. Police said she is the cousin of the boy's mother.

According to authorities, three people witnessed the beating and called 911. They said they saw Peck spanking the boy outside the vehicle, and when the boy began yelling, Peck allegedly took him in inside the car where she repeatedly punched him and hit him with a belt.

Police made a traffic stop on Peck a short time later and took her into custody. Four children, ages 3 to 8, were in the sedan.

The children were taken into protective custody until a relative could come pick them up.

Peck's bail is set at $15,000.

According to court records, Peck has a warrant for an arson charge out of Minnesota.

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