UPDATE
An Horry County Council candidate is in J. Reuben Long Detention Center, charged with unlawful neglect of a child.
A police report says Patrick Boulter, 51, was arrested after an altercation with a child at his home in Little River Monday. Boulter is a petition candidate for County Council District 9 which covers most of the North Carolina border.
The report states Boulter and the boy got into a verbal argument Monday about a bad grade on a quiz. The boy told police Boulter asked him if he wanted to fight. The boy said at first he thought Boulter was playing, but then Boulter took him to the ground, held him down and hit him in the stomach.
The boy told police he got upset and jumped on Boulter's back from behind, causing Boulter's eyeglasses to cut his nose. The boy said Boulter then became angry, threw him to the floor and hit him across the head and face.
The report says the boy had visible bruising, swelling and apparent abrasions on the left side of his forehead, eye and cheek.
According to the report, Boulter admitted to police that he hit the boy in the face with an open hand, but said he did it to scare him, not to hurt him.
Boulter has been released on bond.
Boulter told NewsChannel 15 he hasn't decided yet whether he will stay in the race but he is leaning towards dropping out.
