3 arrested for allegedly putting 6-year-old in dryer, turning it on because he lost his bag of chips

HOUSTON (TCN) -- Three people were taken into custody for allegedly placing a 6-year-old boy in the dryer at a laundromat and turning it on as punishment for losing a bag of chips.

According to Harris County Constable Mark Herman, on Monday, Nov. 11, deputies from Constable Precinct 4 responded to the Hi Tek Washateria on Kuykendahl Road after receiving a report about a young boy locked in the dryer. When they arrived, they found the boy "visibly shaking and crying." Deputies attempted to apprehend the three suspects, but one male, Jaqory Gill, fled on foot. While chasing after Gill, another suspect, Life Ford, reportedly stepped in front of deputy and pushed him. Deputies arrested Ford and a third suspect, Haven Duncan, who reportedly had a firearm in his possession. Officials located Gill and booked him.

Court documents say 18-year-old Duncan and 20-year-old Gill put the victim, identified as D.C. in the criminal complaint, in the dryer "because he was crying about losing his bag of chips." The boy was reportedly "in fear and crying" asking Duncan to stop. Duncan reportedly admitted to placing D.C. in the dryer, but "was joking" and "didn’t think it was serious." D.C., however, reportedly told the responding deputy that he "was scared and not OK."

D.C.’s mother reportedly arrived at the scene and allegedly started screaming at the boy "because he was being a baby while they were playing."

Officials separated the mother and son while medics checked for injuries.

The deputy wrote in the criminal complaint that D.C.’s life "was indeed in danger of suffocation and burns from the heat that built up when used and the lint that’s inside the lint trap."

Surveillance footage from the laundromat reportedly showed D.C. "attempting to prevent himself from going into the dryer by using his feet to stop himself from going into it." Duncan allegedly "placed him in the dryer machine while using force to prevent him from coming out," including having Ford shut the door and Duncan holding it closed. Gill allegedly paid for the dryer and started it while the boy was in it.

They allegedly left D.C. in the machine for about one minute, then brought him out, sat him in a metal cart, and spun him around in circles "in a very aggressive manner." Duncan reportedly stopped spinning the boy when the deputies arrived.

The constable said Haven was arrested for child endangerment, Gill with evading on foot, and Ford with interfering with the duties of a public servant.

Herman said in his statement that Child Protective Services "was contacted and advised the facts of this case."

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