Man arrested in Arkansas after child found in hidden closet that was nailed shut
A man has been accused of trying to hide his child from social services, who had gone to the property to take custody of the youngster, an initial report said.
Wednesday 8 November 2023 09:40, UK
A man in Arkansas has been arrested after police found his child hidden in a closet that was nailed shut.
Jon Thompson, 40, was arrested on 3 November in Tontitown, after his child was discovered inside the compartment - which was covered with clothes and boxes.
An initial incident report claimed he had hidden the child to avoid the Arkansas Department of Human Services taking the youngster away.
The child is thought to be five years old, Sky News US partner site NBC News reported.
Thompson is accused of endangering the welfare of a minor, first-degree false imprisonment, interference with custody, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of body armour, the Washington County prosecuting attorney's office said on Tuesday.
He has not yet been charged.
Bodycam footage released by Tontitown Police shows the moment the child was discovered.
The 22-second video shows a man parting clothes and moving boxes to get to the back of the closet.
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A voice can be heard saying, "baby, baby" before a man appears to open the compartment and the child is brought out.
Another voice is heard saying, "hey, sweetie".
The closet compartment was hidden and nailed shut, according to the incident report.
Officers were initially denied access to the property, and Thompson produced documents indicating that he had been awarded custody of the child back in October, according to a police report.
Documents showing that the state had been granted custody were then reportedly shown to the father.