PETERSON BOOKED ON CHARGES OF INJURY TO A CHILD. HIS ATTORNEY CLAIMING HE WAS PUNISHING HIS SON, BUT WHERE IS THE LINE BETWEEN PUNISHMENT AND ABUSE? THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. I'M PHILLIP MENA. PETERSON WAS LOOKED INTO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL OVERNIGHT AND LEFT JUST AFTER -- JUST 30 MINUTES LATER AFTER POSTING BOND. HE'S ACCUSED OF WHIPPING HIS 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD WITH A SWITCH, LEAVING OPEN WOUNDS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS STORY ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA. SAMANTHA PTASHKIN SPOKE WITH A CHILD ADVOCACY GROUP ABOUT THIS CASE. SAMANTHA? Reporter: THE BIG QUESTION SOME -- IN THIS CASE IS WHETHER OR NOT PETERSON ACTED IN A REASONABLE MANNER. HIS LAWYER SAYS HE DID BUT CHILD ADVOCATES SAY HE CROSSED THE LINE. HE SMILES IN HIS MUG SHOT, BUT NFL RUNNING BACK ADRIAN PETERSON FACES SOME SERIOUS CHARGES. OBVIOUSLY, PARENTS ARE ENTITLED TO DISCIPLINE THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY SEE FIT. EXCEPT FOR WHEN THAT DISCIPLINE EXCEEDS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD SAY IS REASONABLE. Reporter: ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT, PETERSON USED A SWITCH TO DISCIPLINE HIS 4-YEAR-OLD SON. AN ACCUSATION DRAWING ALL SORTS OF RESPONSES. I THINK THAT HEARING THAT HE HAD HIT THE CHILD 17 TIMES, THAT IS EXTENSIVE, ABSOLUTELY. Reporter: STILL, FATHER DAVID BRYANT SAYS HE CAN SOMEWHAT UNDERSTAND WHERE PETERSON IS COMING FROM. I WAS DISCIPLINED THE SAME WAY. I HAD TO PICK OUT A SWITCH OR A BELT. Reporter: HOWEVER, MANDY OF CHILDREN AT RISK SAYS JUST BECAUSE PARENTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN HARSHLY DISCIPLINED IN THE PAST, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT'S NO LONGER THE BEST SOLUTION. WHAT THE RESEARCH AND DATA IS SHOWING US IS THAT CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN A POSITIVE, SAFE, STABLE ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS TEND TO HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME. Reporter: SHE SAYS THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISCIPLINE, TEACHING YOUR KIDS A LESSON IN A SAFE AND PREDICTABLE MANNER, AND CHILD ABUSE, PUTTING YOUR KIDS IN HARM'S WAY. IT'S IMPORTANT AS PARENTS TO BE CALM ABOUT IT, NOT JUST REACT OR SPANK YOUR KID ANGRILY. Reporter: AND AS YOU MENTIONED, PETERSON DID BOND OUT OF JAIL EARLY THIS MORNING. AS FAR AS TOMORROW'S GAME, WHEN THE VIKINGS TIKE ON THE PATRIOTS -- TAKE ON THE PATRIOTS, PETERSON WILL NOT BE PLAYING. REPORTING LIVE, SAMANTHA PTASHKIN, KPRC LOCAL 2. ALL RIGHT, SAMANTHA. THANK YOU. AS WE MENTIONED, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. KIM MAINERED REYNOLDS POSTED ON FACEBOOK, THOSE THAT SUPPORT THIS KIND OF SPANKING ARE JUST CRUEL. HE BEAT THIS BOY. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISCIPLINE AND ABUSE. THIS IS ABUSE ALL DAY. AND LEVI TWEETS I'M SORRY, BUT IF ADRIAN PETERSON IS GUILTY, SO
Adrian Peterson turned himself into the Montgomery County Jail shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
He is charged with one count of injury to a child with reckless or criminal negligence. Peterson was released after posting a $15,000 bond.
The Minnesota Vikings star running back was indicted on an injury to a child charge in Montgomery County on Thursday.
On Saturday, Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant addressed the media, saying the D.A.'s office takes all allegations of child abuse very seriously. Grant said a single grand jury decided to indict Peterson after reviewing evidence for a significant number of weeks.
'Obviously parents are entitled to discipline their children as they see fit except for when that discipline exceeds what the community would say is reasonable. A grand jury, having indicted this case, looked at the injuries that were inflicted upon this child and determined that the discipline was not reasonable,' said Grant.
Grand declined to discuss specifics on the case, citing the ongoing criminal proceedings.
According to a police report, Peterson used a switch taken from a tree outside his home to discipline his 4-year-old son, who was visiting Peterson at his Montgomery County home in May.
The boy told police he pushed his brother off his bike and that's when his father got mad at him. He said his pants were down when Peterson hit him with the switch.
Photos obtained by Local 2 show bruises and lacerations on his legs, arms and buttocks.
The boy's mother told police she was speaking to him via Skype while he was visiting Peterson and her son said he got a 'whooping' with a switch from Peterson.
Investigators say the boy told them Peterson has hit him with a belt and punched him in the head on other occasions.
The police report states that upon returning to Minnesota, the mother took the boy to the doctor, who examined him and determined the injuries were consistent with the boy's story and consistent with physical abuse.
According to the police report, about a week later the boy's mother said Peterson apologized for what happened to their son. She told police Peterson said he didn't make the switch smooth enough and the ridges were what caused the marks.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said a warrant was issued Friday for Peterson's arrest.
Peterson's attorney Rusty Hardin released a statement which read in part:
'Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.'
Hardin said Peterson testified before the grand jury for several hours and is cooperating fully with authorities.
The Minnesota Vikings released a statement which read, 'The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson.'
The Vikings said they have deactivated Peterson for Sunday's home game against the New England Patriots.
Back in July 2012, resisting arrest charges against Peterson were dropped; he had been accused of pushing a police officer outside the club in Bayou Place in downtown Houston.
While Peterson awaits his first court appearance, Grant said the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office will also be working with other law enforcement agencies to determine who is responsible for releasing details and photos of the confidential investigation.
'It's not permissible under the law, it's inappropriate, it shouldn't have happened and we're cooperating with law enforcement authorities to find out who did it,' said Grant.
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