Cop locks handcuffed son in Indiana jail as ‘scare tactic’ to teach lesson, police say

A reserve police officer in Indiana was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 25, after police say he handcuffed his teen son and locked him in jail to teach him a lesson.

Police launched an investigation into Timothy Hayes Jr., 37, in January after a staff member at a high school in Franklin filed a report with child protective services about his 15-year-old son, WISH reported.

Hayes is a reserve officer at Southport Police Department, per WTHR.

Southport is roughly 12 miles south of Indianapolis.

Hayes allegedly handcuffed his son and left him alone in a jail intake facility for more than 30 minutes, according to WAVE.

After, Hayes drove them to the Marion County Arrestee Processing Center where the two never got out of the car, the outlet reported.

Hayes called his actions a “scare tactic” in a statement to police, according to WISH.

“His son’s been doing some things that concern him, and he was trying to show him what happens when you go down that path,” Police Chief Tom Vaughn told the outlet.

A warrant was issued for Hayes’ arrest on Monday and he turned himself in Tuesday morning, the Indianapolis Star reported. He’s charged with criminal confinement and neglect of a dependent, both felony counts, according to the outlet.

He’s been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, the Star reported.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:55 AM.