An Indiana man was arrested after allegedly trying to punish a 7-year-old boy by forcing a bar of soap into the child’s mouth for using a profanity.
Daniel Schergen, 34, reportedly attempted to wash out the boy’s mouth after the child called him a “motherf—er” during an August car ride, according to an affidavit reviewed by People.
Schergen told police he was driving with his girlfriend and four children when the boy became upset and began acting out, the affidavit states.
While the group was heading to Dunkin’, the child allegedly began hitting another child in the back seat, according to the document.
Schergen reached into the back seat in an effort to stop the child. The boy then allegedly directed the profanity at him, police said.
Schergen subsequently pulled into a Dollar General, asked his girlfriend to buy a bar of soap and allegedly forced it into the boy’s mouth. The affidavit says the bar struck the child in the forehead during the incident.
The boy was left with a bruise near his right ear and redness on the right side of his face. Schergen reportedly told police the injuries resulted from holding the child’s head against the car seat.
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According to the affidavit, the child began bleeding and Schergen’s girlfriend administered first aid.
During questioning by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, Schergen said he did not know how the boy sustained the bruise to his ear, the document states.
He also told investigators that the child had a “temper” and had recently been suspended from school for hitting other children, according to the affidavit.
Court records show that Schergen was charged with domestic battery and released on a $750 bond.
He is scheduled to return to court Jan. 6, records show.
Police have not disclosed Schergen’s relationship to the child.
Information about Schergen’s attorney was not immediately available.
