Background: The Legend Apartments in Waco, Texas (Google Maps). Inset left: Paul Thames (McLennan County Sheriff’s Office/KWTX). Inset right: Ring footage of Thames appearing to assault a child (Waco Police Dept./KWTX) .
A Texas man, identified as a U.S. Army sergeant, was caught on home security video viciously assaulting a toddler, according to law enforcement officials.
Paul Thames, aged 29, is currently incarcerated facing charges of injuring a child, classified as a third-degree felony, as per McLennan County Jail records. The incident, which was apparently recorded by a Ring camera, quickly gained traction on social media platforms.
“The Waco Police Department is aware of a widely shared video showing a dreadful attack on a 3-year-old boy by an adult male that took place this afternoon,” stated the department in an official release.
Officers from the Waco police responded to a call at The Legend Apartments on Corporation Parkway on Friday after a witness reported the assault.
“Authorities obtained video doorbell footage depicting the suspect aggressively striking the young child,” the police statement detailed, noting that the boy was subsequently transported by ambulance to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.
The footage allegedly captured Thames lifting the boy and delivering at least five punches to his torso with a closed hand.
“Are you going to stop playing?” Thames is reportedly heard saying, according to local CBS affiliate KWTX. The child was reportedly crying as Thames pulled him up by his face before walking away with him.
Although the relationship between Thames and the child was not immediately available, police said that “[t]he suspect and victim know each other.”
The child victim has been released from the hospital, Waco police added.
An Army spokesperson confirmed to KWTX that Thames is a sergeant stationed at Fort Hood, which is located around 65 miles southwest of Waco.
“We are aware of the arrest of Sgt. Paul Thames for abuse of a child,” the spokesperson told the station. “The 1st Cavalry Division is in communication with law enforcement. We are disgusted by the video that has been posted. The behavior of Sgt. Thames does not reflect the values of the 1st Cavalry Division or the U.S. Army.”
Jail records show that Thames is being held on a $200,000 surety bond.
