Goodyear Official, Wife, Face Child Abuse Charges

Goodyear, Ariz. -- A Goodyear city official has been placed on administrative leave after he and his wife were arrested on suspicion of child abuse, police said.

Raul Varela and his wife, Tricia, were arrested Tuesday morning and charged with one count of felony child abuse, after police responded to a call of possible child abuse, said Assistant Police Chief John Rowan.

Raul Varela is the director of engineering for the city of Goodyear.

The victim, described by Goodyear police as a 4-year-old girl, was listed in critical condition, with fractures to both legs, as well as her right arm, according to police. The girl has since been transferred to another valley hospital and is now listed in stable condition, Rowan said.

According to a police probable cause statement, Tricia Varela said she was upset with her daughter because the child had not gone to the bathroom.

Tricia Varela told police she held her daughter down for three hours until the girl went limp, and then the mother struck her several times with a black leather shoe, according to the statement.

The girl, along with five of her siblings, was placed under CPS custody, according to police.

Rowans said Thursday that the investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be filed.