For one Statham resident, Father’s Day was rewarded by a trip to the Barrow County Detention Center.

David Lamar Carter, of Statham, was charged with battery, simple battery and cruelty to children on June 21, resulting from an altercation.

At 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, police were summoned to Dooleytown Road in reference to a domestic dispute.

Upon arriving, police learned that Carter and his stepson began arguing at the Race Track gas station.

The stepson stated he rode home from the gas station with someone else, and when Carter arrived home, the argument turned physical.

Headbutts and punches were allegedly thrown, with Carter’s stepson receiving injuries to his face.

The victim said Carter entered the home and began yelling and physically attacking him.

The victim said he shoved Carter in self defense. Police noted damage to a screen door resulting from the stepson shoving Carter.

The stepson’s wife tried to intervene, and Carter allegedly struck her in the face with his fist.

The couple’s eight month old son was asleep in the home at the time of the incident.

Carter was charged with third degree cruelty to children under the Georgia’s Family Violence Act.

Although the infant was unhurt, the state laws are designed to protect children from being involved in situations such as this.

Carter was arrested and transported to the BCDC.