A mother and father were arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly severely bruising their child during a whipping after potential child abuse was reported by her school, according to a Columbus Police Department report.

A school counselor met with police at about noon Feb. 14 after noticing severe bruising on an 8-year-old girl. Jamison Franklin, the father, was later arrested and charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.

The child's mother, 28-year-old Shelby Sims, was later arrested and charged with reckless conduct after police discovered that Sims knew about the injuries but did not seek medical treatment for the child.

Sims and Franklin were transported to Muscogee County Jail.