Texas authorities arrested three people after allegedly forcing a 6-year-old boy into a dryer at a laundromat and turning it on for one minute.
Police in Harris County Precinct 4 say it happened at the Hi Tek Washateria in Houston around 11 p.m. on Monday. The boy was not seriously hurt when the deputies got there, but the office said he was “visibly shaking and crying.
One of the suspects allegedly ran away when police tried to arrest him. When deputies tried to catch the woman, Life Ford (19 years old), she stepped in front of them to block their way.
The suspect, 20-year-old Jaqory Gill, was finally caught by police and taken into custody. Police say that 18-year-old Haven Duncan, the third suspect, had a stolen gun on him.
Detectives looked at video from inside the laundromat that they said showed Duncan putting the boy in the dryer against his will. People saw the boy try to fight back, but it did not work.
Ford is said to have shut the door and held it shut after putting the boy in the dryer. Gill then paid for the cycle with a credit card and turned it on. It is said that they left the boy in the dryer for one minute.
Cops say Duncan took the boy out and put him in a laundry cart, then Gill and Ford began swinging it around in a “very aggressive” way.
The affidavit said that the person who called the police to report the abuse later told detectives that the whole thing happened because the boy was upset about losing a bag of chips and they wanted to punish him.
Three people are being charged with putting children in danger. Ford is also charged with interfering with the duties of a public servant, and Gill is charged with evading on foot.
They were all taken to the Harris County Jail. As of Wednesday afternoon, Duncan was the only person still in jail.
Police say the boy was picked up by a guardian and taken home. The event was also reported to Child Protective Services.
