No bail for Pittsburgh man accused of beating grandson with belt

A judge Thursday denied bail for a Pittsburgh man who police say beat his grandson with a belt inside a school classroom after the boy misbehaved.

Police said Harold Coates, 52, beat the boy in front of teachers in a Propel School classroom in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood.

Coates told police he’d hit the boy “a few times,” and that he’d aimed for his legs, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.

Coates was called to the school because of his 8-year-old grandson’s behavior, police said. Surveillance footage allegedly captured Coates dragging the child from a classroom while hitting him with a belt, police wrote in the complaint. Police said the footage showed Coates hitting the child at least 16 times.

Two teachers witnessed the alleged assault, police said. Further footage showed Coates dragging the boy down a hallway and down a flight of stairs, according to the complaint.

Police said officers found blood on the boy’s shirt and noted bruises on his head and body. He was treated and released from UPMC Children’s Hospital.

Coates is charged with assault and child endangerment.