A Payson man was arrested Thursday on allegations of physically abusing his two nieces.

According to police reports, a 4-year-old girl told officers her uncle Nathan Hansen had abused her. When asked what happened, she said her uncle had hit her face with an open hand. She said he had also allegedly gotten upset with her 2-year-old sister and picked her up by her hair.

Officers found multiple bruises on the 4-year-old's body, including bruised hand prints on her legs and both her cheeks, according to police reports. The girl also had a bruise on her ear and said the injuries had occurred on the same day. Police also found a chunk of hair the size of a quarter missing from the 2-year-old's head from being picked up by her hair. According to police documents, Hansen claimed the 4-year-old's injuries were caused when she fell into a couch and table, and when he tried to help her, he fell on her face with his knees.

When the injuries to the girl and marks on her face were explained, Hansen said he grabbed the girl's face because he was frustrated with her for not picking up and eating, according to police reports. He also said he did not hit her but pulled her out of bed by her leg when he was frustrated. According to police reports, Hansen did not admit to pulling the 2-year-old's hair, but said the older sister was not lying in her statements.