A Suffolk man is charged with child abuse after police say he beat his 9-year-old daughter with a belt.

Brandon Cardenell Adger, 32, is charged with abuse and neglect of children and cruelty and injuries to children. Police say he beat his daughter so severely that she wasn’t able to attend school for two days, city spokeswoman Debbie George said.

The beating resulted in deep bruises to her legs and arms as well as lacerations to her legs, George said.

The alleged incident occurred on Tuesday but was not reported to police until Thursday, when Child Protective Services became involved.

George said the man’s daughter does not live with him, so she still is at her mother’s house.