Authorities in Texas have arrested three adults for reportedly locking a 6-year-old under their care inside a dryer and turning it on.
Duncan Haven, Jaqory Gill, and Life Ford were detained in connection with the alleged incident on Monday, November 11, according to a statement from Harris County Constable Precinct 4.
The inquiry began after police reacted to a report of a 6-year-old being confined inside a dryer at a Houston laundromat. When they arrived, the victim was “visibly shaking and crying,” according to Constable Mark Herman’s statement.
Authorities discovered that the boy was in the custody of Haven, 18, Gill, 20, and Ford, 19. The toddler allegedly misplaced a bag of chips and grew agitated.
According to Herman, Duncan then allegedly placed the youngster inside a dryer as “punishment” and locked him inside.
In an affidavit read by PEOPLE, investigators said Duncan placed the victim inside the dryer while the boy protested, using his feet to fight his way inside.
Duncan then reportedly “repositioned” the boy inside the dryer “using force to prevent him from coming out,” according to the affidavit, which cites video footage from the laundromat that detectives studied.
During the scuffle, police believe Ford shut the machine and allowed Duncan to hold the door closed while Gill used a credit or debit card to start it.
According to the affidavit, the youngster was kept inside for about a minute before Duncan allegedly pulled him outside, placed him in a cart, and roughly swung him about. However, Herman’s statement claimed that the toddler was inside the dryer for around five minutes.
Bystanders then phoned police and EMS, who evaluated the boy and released him to his guardian.
While police were on the scene, the victim’s mother allegedly arrived and yelled at him because “he was being a baby while they were playing,” according to the affidavit, though it’s unclear what she meant. Authorities then separated the mother and the kid. The mother has not been charged in connection with the incident.
When officers attempted to arrest Gill, Ford allegedly “pushed the arm of the deputy” and escaped on foot, according to the affidavit. Gill was eventually contacted via FaceTime on the victim’s mother’s phone and agreed to give himself up.
The link between the three suspects, as well as their separate relationships with the child and the child’s mother, remained unclear.
Haven has been charged with child endangerment and is currently being jailed on a $75,000 bond, according to Harris County online court records.
Gill was accused of endangering a kid and escaping arrest. Ford was initially charged with interfering with the duties of a public servant but was later charged with endangering a child, according to online court documents.
Both Gill and Ford were freed on their $100 bail.
Gill or Ford’s plea or attorney information did not appear in online court records. Haven’s court records did not show a plea, and the attorney listed in his case did not reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week in over 170 languages.
Reference: 3 Caretakers Accused of Locking 6-Year-Old in Dryer and Running It