Adolfo Guzman of Miami Beach, Florida was arrested Sunday for allegedly strapping his 12-year-old son to a concrete pole for several hours as a form of punishment, news sources report. Guzman, 49, was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail on charges of aggravated child abuse for the alleged assault. He was later released after posting $50,000 bail. The press did not specify a lawyer for Guzman.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Saturday. The victim had reportedly gone missing from his house for several hours and failed to tell Guzman where he had gone. When the victim returned home later, Guzman "warned [the victim] he would tie him up if he continued to wander off," a police report says.
On Sunday, the victim purportedly left home to go to a friend's house, again without telling his father. The victim stayed at the home for several hours. When the victim returned home later that day, Guzman led him to a laundry pole outside of their apartment. Sources say Guzman used a bicycle lock to fasten the victim's ankles to the concrete laundry pole.
Reports say Guzman went shopping, leaving the child strapped to the pole. During that time, a group of Jehovah's Witnesses spotted the tethered victim and contacted the police, sources say. The victim reportedly said the bike lock was hurting his ankles, and the Miami Beach Fire Department freed the victim from the pole. "I've never seen this before," a police spokesperson said. "You shouldn't even be chaining a dog up to a pole, much less your own son."
The victim does not appear to have sustained any serious injuries in the alleged incident. When asked, the victim told detectives that his father had strapped him to the pole to keep him from leaving without permission. Guzman returned home a few hours later and was placed under arrest. During a court hearing the next day, a county judge ordered that Guzman have no contact with his child until the case is resolved. The boy in question does not appear to agree with the arrest. "I was feeling bad because it all was my fault," The victim apparently told reporters. He's innocent, so it's all my fault."
In other news, Jennifer L. Holman of Jacksonville was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving drunk with her 6-year-old son in the car, reports say. Holman, 28, was booked into St. John's County Jail on unspecified charges. It is unclear whether she qualified for bail or hired legal representation.