Dwight Howard — Now Under Criminal Investigation for Child Abuse

EXCLUSIVE

Dwight Howard is under criminal investigation for child abuse … law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We’ve learned the Cobb County PD in Georgia now has an active criminal investigation into allegations he beat his 6-year-ancient son Braylon with a belt buckle.  

TMZ broke the report … the Dept. of Children and Families in Florida (DCF) determined there wasn’t enough evidence of child abuse to go forward, but it turns out the incident occurred in Georgia. Howard admits he hit his kid with a belt  but says he didn’t know it was incorrect because he was hit as a kid.

Law enforcement tells us … Georgia cops questioned Florida for the file but the DCF dragged it’s feet and did not cooperate. So it turned into a cold case in anticipation of Monday, after Cobb County detectives saw the TMZ Sports report summarizing a doctor’s findings that Howard committed child abuse.

A Georgia law enforcement source tells TMZ, “People who were not so in the offing before today [Monday] have been.”  The source adds detectives did several one-on-one interviews Monday and say the case “has not been raised to top of the list.”

Howard’s attorney tells TMZ, Howard’s baby mama Royce Reed is “shopping her unjustified allegations” to Georgia authorities even though Florida’s Dept. of Children and Families found her claims had “no merit.”

For the record … DCF found the allegations credible but concluded they did not meet the standard of proof required for formal action.

The attorney says he’s confident that Georgia will reach the same conclusion because “The truth is on our side.”