Authorities in Texas arrested three people after they allegedly forced a 6-year-old boy into a dryer at a laundromat and turned it on for a minute.
It happened around 11 p.m. Monday at the Hi Tek Washateria in Houston, according to the Harris County Constable Precinct 4. When deputies arrived, the boy was not seriously hurt but was “visibly shaking and crying,” the office said. Cops tried to take one of the suspects into custody, but he allegedly took off running. As deputies gave chase, a woman, later identified as 19-year-old Life Ford, stepped in front of them to block their way. Eventually, cops caught the fleeing suspect, 20-year-old Jaqory Gill, and took him into custody. The third suspect, 18-year-old Haven Duncan, had a stolen gun on him, according to cops.
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Detectives reviewed video from inside the laundromat that allegedly showed Duncan pick up the boy and place him into the dryer against his will. The boy was seen trying to fight back but to no avail.
After he stuffed the boy in the dryer, Ford allegedly shut the door, and Duncan held it shut. Gill then used a credit card to pay for the cycle and pressed the “on” button. They allegedly left the boy in the dryer for a minute. Duncan took the boy out and put him into a laundry cart, and Gill and Ford started swinging it around in a “very aggressive manner,” cops allege.
A witness who called police to report the abuse later told detectives the whole ordeal occurred because the boy was crying over losing a bag of chips, and they wanted to punish him, the affidavit said.
All three suspects face child endangerment charges. Additionally, Gill is charged with evading on foot, and Ford faces a count of interfering with the duties of a public servant. All three were taken to the Harris County Jail. As of Wednesday afternoon only Duncan remained in jail.
A guardian picked up the boy and took him home, police said. Child Protective Services was also alerted about the incident.
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