Warning: This story contains disturbing accounts of alleged child abuse.
- Three people were arrested after one of them put a 6-year-old in the dryer, another one forced the door shut, and a third person switched it on, police allege
- The child was “visibly shaking and crying” when police arrived at the scene
- Police allege the child was upset about losing a bag of chips when the suspects “punished” him by putting him in the dryer
Authorities in Texas have arrested three adults who allegedly locked a 6-year-old in their care inside a dryer and switched it on.
Duncan Haven, Jaqory Gill and Life Ford were arrested in connection with the alleged incident on Monday, Nov. 11, the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 said in a statement.
The investigation began after police responded to a report of a 6-year-old locked inside a dryer at a laundromat in Houston. When they got there, the victim was “visibly shaking and crying,” Constable Mark Herman said in the statement.
Authorities learned that the boy was in the care of Haven, 18, Gill, 20, and Ford, 19. The child reportedly lost a bag of chips and became upset.
Duncan then allegedly placed the child inside a dryer as “punishment” and locked him inside, per Herman’s statement.
In an affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE, investigators allege Duncan placed the victim inside the dryer while the child resisted, using his feet to fight being put inside.
Duncan then allegedly “repositioned” the child inside the dryer “using force to prevent him from coming out,” the affidavit claims, citing video footage from the laundromat reviewed by investigators.
During the struggle, police allege Ford shut the machine and let Duncan hold the door closed, when Gill used a credit or debit card and started the machine.
The affidavit states the boy was left inside for approximately a minute before Duncan allegedly brought him out and put him in a cart and aggressively swung him around. However, Herman’s statement alleged the child was inside the dryer for about five minutes.
Bystanders then called police and EMS, who evaluated the child before releasing him in the care of his guardian.
While police were at the scene, the victim’s mother allegedly arrived and yelled at the child because “he was being a baby while they were playing,” investigators state in the affidavit, though it’s unclear exactly what she meant. Authorities then separated the mother from the child. The mother has not been charged in connection with the case.
When police tried to arrest Gill, Ford allegedly “pushed the arm of the deputy” so he could flee, and he fled on foot, the affidavit claims. Gill was later contacted through FaceTime on the victim’s mother’s phone and agreed to turn himself in.
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The relationship between the three suspects, or each of their respective relationships with the child or the child’s mother, was not clear.
Haven has been charged with child endangerment and is being held on a $75,000 bond, Harris County online court records show.
Gill was charged with endangering a child and evading arrest. Ford, who was initially charged with Interfering with the Duties of a Public Servant, was later charged with endangering a child as well, per online court records.
Both Gill and Ford were released on their respective $100 bonds.
Online court information did not show plea or attorney information for Gill or Ford. Haven’s court information did not indicate a plea, and an attorney listed in his case did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comments.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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