An Arizona man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of child abuse after allegedly burning his five-year-old son’s hand because the because the boy touched his Bible. Police said Johnny Salazar, 25, was caring for the boy and his two-year-old brother at his parents’ home when the incident occurred. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
An Arizona man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of child abuse after allegedly burning his five-year-old son’s hand because the because the boy touched his Bible.
Police said Johnny Salazar, 25, was caring for the boy and his two-year-old brother at his parents’ home when the incident occurred.
Salazar reportedly thought the young boy was possessed.
Both Salazar and the boys’ mother, who share custody of the children, live with their own parents.
According to the police report, Salazar’s parents returned to their home on the 800 block of Flint Street in Chandler and noticed the red blistering on the wrist and hand of the boy on Sunday.
When the asked Salazar what happened to the boy’s hand, he told them he burned him with a cigarette lighter, police said.
The boy told his grandmother, ‘well dad burned me for touching his Bible,’ reports AZCentral.com.
Chandler Police Sergeant Joe Favazzo told the website: ‘The boy was touching his Bible and he thought the boy may be possessed.’
Favazzo said Salazar picked up the two-year-old, went to his car and drove off; he returned within a half hour.
Police said he was talking gibberish upon his arrest.
Favazzo said the children are with their mother and ‘are safe’.
The burns did not require any medical attention.
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