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Custody battle ends with police officer slapping boy

EUGENE, Ore. — A police officer hit a 10-year-old boy on the head on Sunday night. The slap, which was captured on video with a cellphone camera, has sparked a fierce debate.

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The incident happened after the boy's father called police and said he had a court order for custody of his son.

The boy's mother reportedly stepped in and told her son to "just run away" from police.

Police said the boy ran and when an officer caught up with him, he bit the officer. That's when the officer hit the boy on the head.

The Eugene Police Department said the officer was just acting within the parameters of his job.