Mom Arrested After Handcuffing 11-Year-Old to Oil Tank in Basement While She Was at Work: Reports

A mother in Pennsylvania has been arrested after reportedly handcuffing her 11-year-old son to an oil tank.

On Saturday, Jan. 11 at approximately 9:55 p.m. local time, the Lebanon County Regional Police Department (LCRPD) “was dispatched to 680 East Kercher Avenue” in the city following reports that “an 11-year-old juvenile male” had been “restrained,” per a police report.

Police identified the woman as Chazzity Candelario, 33, who is now facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child, false imprisonment and unlawful restraint following her arrest on Monday, Jan. 13, per the report.

“An investigation revealed the juvenile’s mother, Chazzity Candelario, had restrained the juvenile to an oil tank in the basement using handcuffs. Candelario was arrested and charged,” police said.

Per the criminal complaint, Candelario told police “she has a hard time controlling her children while she’s away at work,” according to local NBC-affiliated station WGAL.

Candelario allegedly admitted to officers that she’d handcuffed her son to the oil tank, per the outlet.

LCRPD had initially received a report regarding a child being “chained” to a bed in a home, according to local ABC-affiliated station WHTM.

Police said the boy was previously found handcuffed to the railing of a top bunk bed, per the outlet.

The station added that the child had been “tied to a post in the basement” by his mom, but was able to free himself before “accidentally” handcuffing himself to the bed.

WHTM reported that the suspect would handcuff the child “to the leg of the fuel tank for up to two hours” at a time in the basement, citing the complaint.

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The suspect allegedly “admitted to locking” her children “in a small 3×8 utility room,” as well as attaching them to the oil tank, police said, per the outlet.

Candelario is currently being held in Lebanon County Prison and her bail has been set at $100,000, WGAL stated, citing court records.

The Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

The Lebanon County Regional Police Department told PEOPLE that they had no additional information on the case.